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REVISED 



CONSTITUTION AND CANONS 

OF THE 

PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH 

IN THE 

DIOCESE OF VIRGINIA; 

ALSO THE 

CONSTITUTION AND CANONS 

OF THE 

PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH 

IN THE 

UNITED STATES, 

AS ADOPTED IN 1853. 




RICHMOND: 

PRINTED BY ELLIOTT <& NYE, WHIG BUILDING. 

1855. 



REVISED CONSTITUTION 

OF THE 

PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH, <fcc 

AS ADOPTED IV 1836, AND AMENDED IN 1840 AND 1850. 



ARTICLE I. 

There shall be a Convention of the Protestant Episcopal 
Church in this State, on the third Wednesday in May, every 
year; but the Convention which meets in the year previous to 
the meeting of the General Convention, may have power to 
appoint the time and place of meeting for the next annual ses- 
sion; and in the event of the existence of an epidemic disease 
or any other good cause, rendeiing it necessary or expedient to 
alter the place fixed on for any meeting of the Convention, 
the Bishop may change the place, or the time, or both, at his 
discretion. 

ARTICLE II. 
[As amended in 1840 and 1850.] 

The Convention shall be composed of the Bishop and the 
Assistant Bishop, if there be one, and of the officiating minis- 
ters who now are, or may hereafter be regularly and canoni- 
cally elected in parishes or churches within this State, so long 
as they continue officiating in parishes or churches within this 
Diocese, professors of the Theological Seminary of Virginia, 
missionaries acting under the authority of the Bishop, and 
within this Diocese, and of those whom age or infirmity pre- 
vents from exercising their clerical functions, who shall be con- 
sidered members ex officio, and also the acting agent or agents 
for any benevolent society or societies, and the Rector of the 
Episcopal High School, being clergymen of this Church, and 
who are under the canonical jurisdiction of the Bishop of this 
Diocese. No person under ecclesiastical censure or process shall 
k 2 



4 



CONSTITUTION. 



be entitled to a seat in the Convention. The Convention shall 
also be composed of lay members, consisting of one delegate 
for each parish or church, chosen by the vestry or trustees 
thereof. Every parish having more than one officiating minis- 
ter, who hath been regularly and canonically elected, shall be 
entitled to send as many lay delegates as it has ministers — and 
in every case the delegate or delegates shall be communicants 
in the church. The Assistant Bishop shall preside in the Con- 
vention in the absence of the Bishop. 

ARTICLE III. 

Twelve members of the clerical, and twelve of the lay order 
shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business; but a 
smaller number may adjourn. 

ARTICLE IV. 

In all matters that shall come before the Convention, the 
clergy and laity shall deliberate in one body; and the concur- 
rence of a majority shall give validity to any measure; but 
when three members require it, there shall be a vote by orders. 

ARTICLE V 

The election of a Bishop of this Church shah be made in 
Convention in the following manner: The order of the clergy 
shall nominate and appoint by ballot, some fit and qualified 
clergyman for that office; and the votes of a majority of that 
order shall be requisite to constitute a choice; and thereupon, 
such appointment shall be presented to the order of the lay 
delegates, and be considered by them; and if, on a ballot, it 
shall appear that the person so nominated is approved of by a 
majority of the lay order, he shall then be declared to be duly 
elected. 

ARTICLE VI. 

The Bishop shall be President of the Convention; in which 
character it shall be his duty to give to the Convention, annu- 
ally, a general view of the state of the Church; to call special 
Conventions, at whatever time and place he shall think neces- 
sary, or when required by the standing committee; to preserve 
order during the time of session; to put the question, collect 
the votes, and declare the decision; and he may deliver his 
sentiments on any subject after it has been discussed, before a 
vote thereon. 



CONSTITUTION. 



5 



ARTICLE VII. 

In case of a vacancy in the Episcopal Office, the Convention 
immediately upon their assembling, shall choose, by joint ballot, 
a President from among the order of Priests, who shall remain 
in office until the next annual Convention, or until the next 
election of a President. He shall perform all duties, and pos- 
sess all the privileges above specified; but he shall not call 
special meetings of the Convention, unless applied to for that 
purpose, by a majority of the standing committee; and if, while 
there is a Bishop in this Church, he shall not be present at any 
meeting of the Convention, they shall elect, in the manner 
aforesaid, a President pro tempore. 

ARTICLE VIII. 

A Secretary shall be appointed by the Convention, who shall 
continue in office during good behaviour. His duty shall be to 
make minutes of their proceedings, to preserve their journals 
and records, to attest the public acts of the body, and faithfully 
to deliver into the hands of his successor, all books and papers 
relative to the concerns of the Convention, which may be in his 
possession. It shall be his duty to notify through the channel 
of the public papers, as he may think proper, the time and place 
for the meeting of the succeeding Convention. The Secretary 
shall annex to the journals of every succeeding Convention, a 
list of the clergy, with all alterations therein produced in the 
preceding year by ordinations, deaths, removals, suspensions, 
and degradations. 

ARTICLE IX 

A Treasurer shall be appointed by the Convention, who shall 
continue in office during good behaviour, and who shall dis- 
charge the duties usually appertaining to that office. 

ARTICLE X. 

Before the adjournment of each annual Convention, a stand- 
ing committee, consisting of six members, three clerical and 
three of the lay order, who shall be communicants of the 
Church in the Diocese, shall be chosen by a ballot of the clergy 
and laity. 

ARTICLE XI. 

Every parish within this Diocese shall be entitled to the 
entire benefit of this Convention, as soon as it shall have signi 



6 



CONSTITUTION. 



fied its ratification thereof, either in writing or by sending a lay- 
delegate to the Convention; and such parish shall thereafter be 
benefited and bound, equally with the other parishes in this 
Diocese, by every rule and canon which shall be framed by any 
Convention acting under this Constitution, for the government 
of this Church in ecclesiastical concerns. 

ARTICLE XII. 

This Constitution shall be unalterable, except in the follow- 
ing manner: A proposition for any change shall be introduced 
in writing and considered in Convention; and, if approved of, 
the same shall be transmitted to the several vestries of the 
parishes which shall have ratified this Constitution; and, if 
again approved of in the next ensuing Convention, by a ma- 
jority, the change shall then take place; and the Constitution, 
so altered, shall be valid and obligatory. 



CANONS 



OF THE 

PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH 

OF THE 

DIOCESE OF VIRGINIA. 

ADOPTED MAY, 1849, AND MAT, 1850. 



CANON L 
Of the Trial of a Bishop. 

The trial of a Bishop shall be on a presentment in writing, 
specifying the offence of which he is alleged to be guilty, with 
reasonable certainty as to time, place, and circumstances. Such 
presentment may be made for any crime or immorality, for 
heresy, for violation of the constitution, canons, or rubrics of 
the Protestant Episcopal Church, in the United States, or of 
this Diocese. Said presentment may be made by the Conven- 
tion, two-thirds of each order present concurring: Provided, 
That two-thirds of the clergy, entitled to seats in said Conven- 
tion be present; and provided also, that two-thirds of the pa- 
rishes and churches, canonically in union with said Convention, 
be represented therein, and the vote thereon shall not, in any 
case, take place on the same day on which the resolution to 
present is offered. The Convention, making the presentment, 
shall by a concurrent vote, appoint a committee of prosecution, 
to consist of three presbyters and three lay members of their 
own body, by whom the presentment shall be signed in their 
official characters. 

Such presentment shall be addressed to " the Bishops of the 
Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States." It shall 
be the duty of the committee of prosecution to cause said pre- 
sentment to be delivered to the presiding Bishop, or, if he be 
the Bishop to be presented, then to the Bishop next in seniority, 



8 



CANONS 



who shall thereon, be fully empowered to proceed to the trial 
according to the provisions made by the canons of the General 
Convention . 

The committee of prosecution shall attend the trial, and prose- 
cute the same. 

CANON II. 

Of the trial of a Clergyman, not being a Bishop. 

Sec. 1. The trial of a clergyman, not being a Bishop, shall 
be on a presentment in writing, specifying, with reasonable 
clearness and certainty as to time, place, and circumstance, the 
crime or misdemeanor, by violation of the canons or otherwise, 
charged; the said presentment to be made to the Bishop, either 
by the Convention,, or by the vestry of the parish to which the 
accused belongs, or by any three presbyters of this Diocese, 
entitled to seats in the Convention: the said vestry, or presby- 
ters, pledging themselves to act as a committee of prosecution. 
If, however, the presentment be made by the Convention, then 
the Convention shall appoint the committee of prosecution, and 
furnish them with such instructions as may be deemed ne- 
cessary. 

Sec. 2. Such presentment being made to the Bishop, and 
being accompanied by a further statement in writing of the 
names of the witnesses, and of the purport of their evidence, 
and by such documentary evidence as may be in their posses- 
sion, the Bishop, unless the accusation appear to him an insuffi- 
cient cause of presentment in itself, or to be clearly unsupported 
by evidence, shall immediately proceed to the trial according to 
the following provisions : He shall nominate from among the 
clergy, entitled to seats in the Convention, other than the 
members of the standing committee, eight presbyters, and cause 
a list of their names and a copy of the presentment to be fur- 
nished to the accused, or left at his place of residence. Of the 
eight presbyters, nominated as aforesaid, the accused may choose 
five, or, in case of his refusal, or neglect, for twenty days, so to 
do, the Bishop shall select five, and the presbyters so chosen, 
shall constitute a court for the trial of the accused. The Bishop 
shall also, at the same time, cause at least thirty days notice of 
the time and place of the trial to be given both to the accused 
and to the parties presenting him, and also to the presbyters 
nominated as before provided. 



CANONS. 



9 



Sec. 3. The court shall appoint a President and Secretary— 
the first always from their own body. 

Sec. 4. If the accused appear, before proceeding to trial, he 
shall be called on by the court to say whether he is guilty or not 
guilty of the offence, or offences, charged against him, and on 
his neglect or refusal to answer, the plea of not guilty shall be 
entered for him, and the trial shall proceed: Provided, that for 
sufficient cause, the court may adjourn, from time to time, and 
place to place: And provided also , that the accused shall, at all 
times during the trial, have liberty to be present, to produce his 
testimony, and to make his defence. 

Sec. 5. On the request of the accused, or the committee of 
prosecution, witnesses may be summoned, if before the meeting 
of the court, by the Bishop, if during the session of the court, 
then by its President. All testimony shall be given under oath 
or affirmation, administered by some officer, authorized by law. 
In case the testimony of any witness, whose attendance on the 
trial cannot be obtained, is desired, it shall be lawful for either 
party, at any time after notice of the presentment is served on 
the accused, to apply to the court, if in session, or if not, to the 
Bishop, who shall thereupon appoint a commissioner to take the 
deposition of such witness; and such party, so desiring to take 
the deposition, shall give to the other party, or some one of 
them, reasonable notice of the time and place of taking the 
deposition, accompanying such notice with the interrogatories 
to be propounded to the witness: whereupon, it shall be lawful 
for the other party, within six days after such notice, to pro- 
pound cross interrogatories; and such interrogatories and cross 
interrogatories, if any be propounded, shall be sent to the com- 
missioner, who shall, thereupon, proceed to take the testimony 
of such witness, and transmit it under seal to the court. But 
no deposition shall be read at the trial, unless the court have 
reasonable assurance that the attendance of the witness cannot 
be procured, or unless both parties shall consent that it may be 
read. 

Sec. 6. The court, having deliberately considered the evi- 
dence, shall, within ten days after closing the same, declare in a 
written judgment signed by them, or a majority of them, that 
the accused is guilty or not guilty, of the charge or charges, or 
any of them, laid in the presentment, in the order therein set 
forth, and also, if guilty, what punishment shall be awarded; 



10 



CANONS. 



which judgment, Avith all the evidence received, shall be de- 
livered forthwith to the Bishop; whereupon, unless the Bishop 
see cause to mitigate or remit the punishment, or to grant a new 
trial, he shall pronounce sentence according to the judgment of 
the court, and such sentence shall be final. In case a new trial 
is granted, a new court shall be constituted according to the 
provisions of this canon. 

Sec. 7. If the accused shall neglect or refuse to appear before 
the court, when summoned according to section second of this 
canon, and no defence be there made under his authority, the 
court shall declare him to be in contumacy, and report the same 
to the Bishop, and sentence of suspension from the ministry 
shall pass against him for contumacy; but the said sentence 
shall be reversed by the Bishop, if, within three calendar 
months, the accused shall tender himself ready, and accord- 
ingly appear to take his trial on the presentment; but, if he 
shall not so tender himself before the expiration of the said 
three months, the sentence of degradation from the ministry, 
for contumacy, shall forthwith be pronounced by the Bishop, 
who shall cause such sentence to be publicly read to the con- 
gregations of the Diocese, by the respective ministers thereof. 

Sec. 8. If, at any time, the accused shall confess himself 
guilty of the matters charged in the presentment, or any of 
them, the court shall proceed to award the punishment and 
certify the same as herein before provided, to the Bishop, who 
shall, unless he see cause to remit or mitigate the punishment, 
pronounce the sentence according to the canons. 

Sec. 9. All notices and papers contemplated by this canon 
may be served by a summoner, or summoners, appointed by the 
Bishop, or by the court, when the same is in session, and the 
certificate of any such summoner shall be evidence of the due 
service of a notice or paper. The delivery of a written notice 
or paper to a party, or the leaving it at his last place of residence, 
shall be deemed a sufficient service of such notice or paper. 

Sec. 10. The accused party may have the privilege of appear- 
ing by counsel, and, in case of the exercise of such privilege, ♦■ 
but not otherwise, those presenting shall have the like privi- 
lege. If the party accused desire it, the trial shall be in public, 
and said party shall be entitled to a copy of the evidence, if he 
require it. 

Sec. 11. In case of a presentment occurring during a va- 



CANONS. 



11 



cancy in the Episcopal office, such presentment shall be made 
to the standing committee, who shall thereon take such steps as 
are by this canon enjoined on the Bishop: Provided, that on 
receiving the proceedings and judgment of the court, they shall 
transmit the same to the Bishop of some other Diocese, who 
shall be requested, and is hereby authorized, to act thereon, as 
if he were the Bishop of the Diocese, and if he shall concur in 
opinion with the court he shall proceed to pronounce sentence 
accordingly. 

CANON III. 

Of the proceedings in the trial of a Layman, after expulsion by 
the Minister from the Holy Communion. 

If any person repelled from the Holy Communion, shall 
allege to the Bishop that injustice has been done, or if, notwith- 
standing he shall have professed himself ready and willing, in 
truth and sincerity, to comply with the requisitions expressed 
in the rubric, in order to be restored to the Holy Communion, 
his repulsion shall be continued; he may present his complaint 
in writing to the Bishop, setting forth the grounds thereof, and 
desiring that he may be restored to the Communion — and then 
the Bishop, unless he think fit to restore the communicant from 
the insufficiency of the cause assigned by the minister, shall 
nominate two of the clergy and two of the laity, of whom the 
minister repelling shall select one of the clergyman and the 
communicant one of the laymen ; and it shall be the duty of 
the two, thus chosen, to take without delay the evidence in the 
case, under oath and in writing, of such witnesses as may be 
produced by either of the parties, and to certify the some to the 
Bishop, who, thereupon,. unless for his own satisfaction, or for 
good cause shown by either of the parties interested, he shall 
desire further evidence, shall proceed to adjudge the case. If 
further evidence be required, it shall be obtained and certified, 
either by the same commission, or by another appointed in the 
'« manner above prescribed, as the Bishop may direct. And when 
the evidence is thus procured, the Bishop shall adjudge the 
case, and shall communicate his judgment whenever made to 
the minister repelling and to the communicant repelled, which 
judgment shall be final and conclusive: Provided, that in case 
his judgment shall direct a further continuance of the repulsion, 



12 



CANONS. 



it shall nevertheless be subject to all the conditions and provi- 
sions of the rubric. 

4 

CANON IV. 

Of the transfer of Communicants from one Parish, or Church, 

to another. 

Every communicant removing from one parish or church to 
another, within this Diocese, and desiring to be enrolled as a 
communicant thereof, shall present to the minister a certificate 
of regular standing from the minister, or, if there be no minister, 
from the vestry of the parish or church from which the commu- 
nicant desires to be transferred. 

CANON V. 

Ministers to be careful in admitting to Holy Communion. 
No minister shall enroll any persons as communicants in the 
parish or congregation under his charge, until he has conversed 
with them on the subject, or unless he shall be satisfied that 
they have been regular communicants in some other parish or 
congregation; nor shall he so enroll any one, who is known to 
deny the doctrines of the gospel, as generally set forth in the 
authorized standards of the church. 

CANON VI. 

Communicants to have Family Worship. 
It shall be the duty of every communicant in this Church, 
who is at the head of a family, to live in the daily exercise of 
family worship. 

CANON VII. 

The Members of this Church to instruct their ^Families in the 
principles of Religion. 

The members of this Church shall instruct their families, as 
far as they are able, in the principles of the Christian religion. 
Parents and sponsors shall be careful to teach their children the 
solemnity and obligation of their baptismal vow, to cause them 
to attend the catechetical and other instructions of their minister; 
and, as soon as they are sufficiently instructed and impressed 
with the importance and sacredness of their baptismal promise, 
shall take care that they come to the Bishop to be confirmed by 
him. 



CANONS. 



13 



CANON VIII. 

Of the due celebration of Sunday. 
All persons within this Church shall celebrate and keep the 
Lord's Day, commonly called Sunday, in hearing the Word of 
God read and taught, in private and public prayer, and in acts 
of charity, using all sober and godly conversation. 

CANON IX. 
Of Vestries, Church Wardens, fyc. 

Sec. 1. The vestries shall be chosen for each parish in this 
Diocese, in the following manner: Every person above twenty- 
one years of age, resident of the parish six months next pre- 
ceding the day of election, being a pew-holder or contributor to 
the charges of the parish, shall have a right of suffrage in the 
election of vestrymen for such parish; and all persons so qua- 
lified shall, on every Easter Monday, assemble in their respec- 
tive parishes, at the parish church, or at such other place as the 
minister of the parish, or, if there be no minister, as any three 
or more vestrymen, or, if there be not three vestrymen, as any 
three members of the church may have publicly notified to the 
parishioners; and the said persons, so qualified to vote, when 
assembled, or such of them as may assemble in each parish, 
shall proceed, by a majority of votes, to elect, by ballot, five or 
more vestrymen, not exceeding twelve, from among the parish- 
ioners qualified to vote, who, with the minister of the parish 
for the time being, shall be the vestry of the said parish, for fhe 
ensuing year, and continue in office until their successors shad 
be elected and qualified to act. 

Sec. 2. If, from any cause whatever, Easter Monday should 
elapse without any election of vestrymen, then the said election 
may be held on any other day (Sunday excepted) appointed for 
the purpose at any time thereafter, although it may be in any 
subsequent year, of which day notice shall be given by the 
minister, if there be any, in his church, immediately after divine 
service, on two succeeding Sundays, and, if there be no minis- 
ter, by any two vestrymen, by writing, set up at the door of the 
church, two weeks before the day of meeting. 

Sec 3. Every person, chosen a vestryman, shall, before he 
acts as such, subscribe to the following declaration and promise: 

" I do believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Tes- 



14 



CANONS. 



tament to be the Word of God, and to contain all things neces- 
sary to salvation; and I do yield my hearty assent and approba- 
tion to the doctrines and worship of the Protestant Episcopal 
Church in these United States. And I promise that I will faith- 
fully execute the office of a vestryman of parish in 

county, without prejudice, favor, or affection, according to the 
best of my skill and knowledge." 

Sec. 4. The vestrymen of each parish, or a majority of those 
who shall attend, shall judge of the election of vestrymen, of 
the qualification of voters, and of the qualification of parish- 
ioners, proposed to be elected as vestrymen. 

Sec. 5. If any vacancy happen in the vestry, or any elected 
shall refuse to serve, the other members shall have power to ap- 
point a new member or members, as the case may be, to serve 
till the succeeding election. 

Sec 6. The minister of the parish, for the time being, shall 
preside in the vestry when present, collect the votes, and shall, 
upon an equal division of those present, have a vote, except in 
cases in which he is in any manner personally interested. A 
majority of the whole number of vestrymen shall be necessary 
to constitute a quorum. 

Sec 7. Whenever a meeting of the vestry shall be necessary, 
it shall be called by the minister, but, if there be no minister, 
or if he be absent, or refuse or neglect to call a meeting when 
requested to do so by any two of the vestrymen, they may 
themselves summon a vestry. 

Sec 8. On every Easter Monday, after the election of ves- 
trymen, the vestry shall proceed to choose, from among their 
own body, two suitable persons to be Church Wardens for the 
ensuing year. If Church Wardens should not, from any cause, 
be chosen by the vestry on Easter Monday, they may be chosen 
at any subsequent meeting of the vestry. 

Sec 9. The vestry of every parish shall provide a fit person 
as Register of the Parish, whose duty it shall be to keep true 
and fair entries of the proceedings of such vestry, and when- 
ever there shall be no minister of the parish, then he shall also 
enter in a book, provided for the purpose by the vestry, all bap- 
tisms, marriages, and funerals, in the parish, by any minister of 
the Protestant Episcopal Churchy and which may be made 
known to him by any of the said ministers or vestrymen of the 



CANONS. 



15 



parish; and it shall also be the duty of said register, in the 
entry of baptisms, to insert the christian names and surnames 
of the parents, with dates of the baptisms and births of the per- 
sons baptized; and, in the entry of marriages and burials, to 
insert the time of the celebration and the christian and surnames 
of the persons married and the persons buried. 

Sec 10. The term "parish," wherever it occurs in the fore- 
going canon, shall be interpreted also to mean church or con- 
gregation, whenever such church or congregation is entitled to 
a separate vestry, unless where the context requires a more re- 
stricted construction. 

CANON X. 

Concerning exceptions to the foregoing Canon. 

Whereas the preceeding canon, which directs the manner of 
choosing vestrymen in the several parishes, is not applicable to 
the case of churches built and supported by voluntary associa- 
tions of individuals; and it is proper that those who hold the 
sole property of a particular church — as in the case of the Monu- 
mental Church, Richmond, and in all similar cases — should 
provide for its care and management, the choice of vestrymen 
shall be made by the pew-holders of the respective churches, 
conforming, as to the time of appointment and manner of quali- 
fying the vestrymen, to the regulations prescribed by the ninth 
canon, excepting in the case of Christ Church, in the city of 
Norfolk, which, being under peculiar circumstances in relation 
to the number cf trustees, the time and manner of electing 
them and the Rector, the pew-holders are permitted to conform 
to their own regulations in those particulars. 

CANON XI. 

Of the division of Parishes. 

Sec. 1. Whenever the members of the church, residing in a 
particular portion of a parish, shall desire to separate from the 
parish of which they form a part, it shall be lawful for them to 
assemble and appoint a committee to take such measures as may 
be necessary. 

Sec. 2. The committee thus appointed shall give to the Bishop 
and to the majority of the vestry (if there be one) of the parish 



16 



CANONS. 



from which they desire to be separated, a formal notice of their 
intention to apply for such purpose, which notice shall contain 
a description of the proposed line or lines of division, and shall 
be sent to the Bishop and said vestry, at least three months be- 
fore the meeting of the Convention to which the application 
shall be made. 

Sec. 3. Said application shall be made in the form of a peti- 
tion to the Convention, and shall set forth the considerations 
which are supposed to render the division desirable; whereupon 
the Convention may, if they deem it expedient, proceed to di- 
vide said parish, and to constitute the portion thereof applying 
for separation a new parish, with all the rights and privileges of 
other parishes of this Diocese. 

Sec. 4. As soon after the adjournment of the Convention as 
may be practicable, the committee aforesaid shall give at least 
two weeks' notice to the members of the church, residing in the 
new parish, to assemble for the election of a vestry, which elec- 
tion shall be conducted according to the directions contained in 
canon ninth. 

Sec. 5. The committee aforesaid, or a majority of those who 
may attend, shall judge of the qualification of voters, and of 
the qualification of persons proposed to be elected, and of the 
election of vestrymen ; and those persons whom said committee 
shall declare to be duly elected, shall be the vestry of said pa- 
rish, until the election and qualification of the succeeding vestry. 

CANON XII. 
Of the formation of JYew Congregations. 

When any number of persons belonging to any parish or con- 
gregation, sufficient to build a house of worship, and provide 
for the support of a minister, shall choose to separate from the 
parish or congregation, of which they have hitherto been a part, 
they may proceed, according to the directions given in the ele- 
venth canon, except that, in this case, the direction as to a line 
or lines of division is inapplicable. The Convention may, on 
such petition, constitute the applicants a separate congregation, 
and authorize, by special enactment, such peculiar provisions, 
as to the right of suffrage, the employment of a minister, or 
ministers, and the manner of holding and managing the pro- 



CANONS. 



17 



perty of such congregation, as they may propose, and the Con- 
vention deem expedient: Provided, that the time of electing and 
the manner of qualifying vestrymen shall always be conformed 
to the regulations prescribed in the ninth canon. 

CANON XIII. 

Of the Evidence of the Appointment of Lay Delegates to the 

Convention. 

The appointment of lay delegates to the Convention of this 
Diocese shall be certified by the rector, register, or warden of 
the proper parish or church, and said certificate shall be in form 
as follows: 

"This is to certify, that at a meeting of the Vestry, (or Trus- 
tees, as the case may be,) of Parish, (or Church,) in 

county, held on the day of , A. B., who 

is a communicant in said parish, or church, was appointed a 
Lay Delegate to represent the same in the Convention of the 
Protestant Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Virginia, to be 
holden on the day of in the year of our Lord, 

A B , Rector. 

C D , Register, or 

Church Warden." 

CANON XIV. 

Of the Standing Committee. 

Sec. 11 Any vacancy occurring by death, or otherwise, in 
the Standing Committee, shall be supplied by the concurrent 
vote of the remaining clerical members, and lay members of the 
committee. 

Sec. 2. In case of a vacancy in the Episcopate, the powers 
and duties to be performed by the Bishop, as regards discipline, 
except the pronouncing sentence of suspension, deposition or 
degradation from the ministry, shall belong to, and be performed 
by, the Standing Committee. 

Sec. 3. The record of all the proceedings, on a presentment 
of a clergyman or layman, shall be preserved by the Standing 
Committee, and for that purpose shall, after a final decision, be 
delivered to their secretary. 

B 



18 



CANONS. 



Sec. 4. It shall be the duty of the Standing Committee, be- 
fore every stated meeting of the General Convention, to draft, 
with the advice and approbation of the Bishop, a report of the 
state of the Church in this Diocese, to be presented to the Gen- 
eral Convention. 

Sec. 5. It shall be the duty of the Standing Committee, at 
every meeting of the Convention, to submit, in addition to the 
report of their proceedings, the documents also which have 
been laid before them during the year. 

CANON XV. 

A List to be made of Ministers in this Diocese. 

Sec 1. Within one week before every stated meeting of the 
Convention of this Diocese, the Bishop, or if there be no Bishop, 
the Standing Committee, shall prepare, or cause to be prepared, 
a list of all the ministers of the Protestant Episcopal Church, 
canonically resident in this Diocese, annexing the names of 
their respective cures, or of their stations as missionaries, or of 
the colleges, academies, or other seminaries of learning in which 
they are engaged, or in regard to those who have no cure, or are 
not engaged in missions, or institutions of learning, as above, 
their places of residence only. And such list, corrected as 
hereinafter mentioned, shall be laid before the Convention on 
the first day of meeting, and the names of the clerical members 
called therefrom, and be appended to the journal, and shall be 
transmitted to the Secretary of the General Convention. 

Sec 2. The list of the clergy of this Diocese, so prepared by 
the Bishop or Standing Committee, and annexed, according to 
the changes which may occur, whether by death, ordination, 
discipline, or canonical removals from, or admission into, this 
Diocese, shall be evidence of a clergyman's having a cure or 
mission, or engagement in a seminary of learning. And no 
clergyman, while suspended from the ministry, shall have a 
place on said list. 

Sec 3. The right of any clergyman to a seat in the Conven- 
tion shall, if disputed, be determined according to the provisions 
of the constitution and canons, by the Convention itself, whe- 
ther his name be inserted in the list aforesaid, or omitted. 

Sec. 4. It shall be the duty of the clergy to attend regularly 



CANONS. 



19 



at the meeting of every Convention. At the opening of the 
Convention, their names shall be called over, and absentees 
noted, and at the ensuing stated Convention, they shall be re- 
quired to give excuses for their absence. 

CANON XVI. 

Of Candidates for Orders. 

If any candidate for orders in this Diocese shall be charged 
with any of the offences, for which a communicant may be sub- 
jected to discipline, or with having, without good and sufficient 
cause, desisted from his studies preparatory for ordination, the 
Bishop and Standing Committee shall carefully investigate the 
charge, and if satisfied that the offence alleged has been com- 
mitted, the Bishop shall erase the name of the offender from the 
register, and inform him that he has ceased to be a candidate. 

CANON XVII. 

Respecting the Property of the Church. 

The vestries respectively shall hold all glebes, lands, parson- 
age houses, churches, books, plate, or other property, now 
belonging, or hereafter accruing, to the Protestant Episcopal 
Church of the Diocese of Virginia, as trustees for the benefit of 
the parish, or church, for whose use the same were, or shall 
hereafter be, purchased, or otherwise obtained; and may im- 
prove, demise, or otherwise dispose of the lands, or houses 
allowed for the minister's habitation or use, with the minister's 
consent; if there be no minister, with the consent of the 
Bishop; or in case there be no minister, and the Episcopal office 
be vacant, then not without the consent of the standing com- 
mittee. The vestry may also use, improve, or dispose, of all 
personal property, and the produce, rents, and profits of lands 
and houses, (not appropriated for the occupancy and use of the 
minister,) belonging to the church, in repairing the church and 
parsonage house for the benefit of the respective parishes or 
churches, and may make such rules and orders for managing 
the affairs and temporal concerns of their respective churches 
and parishes as they shall think most conducive to their interest 
and prosperity. They shall have the sole power of directing 
the payment of money, belonging to the respective churches 

B 2 



20 



CANONS. 



and parishes, and appoint a clerk, treasurer, and collector, when 
necessary; all which proceedings shall be entered in a well 
bound book, to be kept for that purpose. But when there are 
trustees under the act of the Legislature, passed February 3d, 
1842, authorized to hold real property, such real property shall 
not be subject to the provisions of this canon. 

CANON XVIII. 
Providing for the Expenses of the Diocese. 

The vestry of each parish or church shall, at every annual 
Convention, pay to the Treasurer such sums as may be appor- 
tioned to them respectively, for the purpose of defraying such 
expenses as may be authorized by the Convention. 

CANON XIX. 

Offenders to be admonished, or repelled from the Lord's Table. 

Any member of the church, being a communicant thereof, 
conducting himself or herself in a manner unworthy of a Chris- 
tian, ought to be admonished, or repelled from the Lord's Table, 
by the minister of the parish or church, according to the rubric; 
and gaming, attendance on horse-racing and theatrical amuse- 
ments, witnessing immodest and licentious exhibitions or shows, 
attending public balls, habitual neglect of public worship, or a 
denial of the doctrines of the Gospel, as generally set forth in 
the authorized standards of the church, are offences for which 
discipline should be exercised. This enumeration, however, 
shall not be construed to include all the subjects of discipline 
in the church, and in cases where it may be deemed expedient 
by the minister, or may be requested by the accused, the church 
wardens, or either of them, if communicants, shall be sum- 
moned to assist the minister in ascertaining the facts of the 
case : Provided, That if such warden or wardens shall fuil or 
refuse to act within ten days, the minister shall proceed to act 
under the rubrics of this church. 

CANON XX. 

Concerning altering or adding to the Canons of this Church. 

No proposed alteration or addition to the canons shall here- 
after be considered by the Convention, unless at least one day's 



CANONS . 



21 



previous notice be given in open Convention, nor until such 
alteration or addition shall have been referred to, and reported 
upon by a committee of at least two presbyters and two laymen. 
Nor shall such alteration or addition be adopted during the same 
Convention if two-thirds of the members shall not concur 
therein; but in such case, it shall lie over for consideration 
until the next annual Convention. 

CANON XXI. 

All former canons of this Diocese, not included in these 
canons, are hereby repealed. 



\ 



AN ACT 

CONCERNING CHURCH PROPERTY. 

New Code of Virginia, Chapter 77, page 362. 



§ 8. Every conveyance, devise, or dedication, shall be valid, 
which, since the first day of January, seventeen hundred and 
seventy-seven, has been made, and every conveyance shall be 
valid which hereafter shall be made, of land for the use or bene- 
fit of any religions congregation as a place for public worship, 
or as a burial-place, or a residence for a minister; and the land 
shall be held for such use or benefit, and for such purpose, and 
not otherwise. 

§ 9. The circuit court of the county or corporation, wherein 
there may be any parcel of such land, or the greater part thereof, 
may, on application of the proper authorities of such congrega- 
tion, from time to time, appoint trustees, either where there 
were or are none, or in place of former trustees, and change 
those so appointed, whenever it may seem to the court proper, 
to effect or promote the purpose of the conveyance, devise, or 
dedication; and the legal title to such land shall, for that pur- 
pose, be vested in the said trustees for the time being and their 
successors. 

§ 10. When books or furniture shall be given or acquired for 
the benefit of such congregation, to be used on the said land, in 
the ceremonies of public worship, or at the residence of their 
minister, the same shall stand vested in the trustees, having 
the legal title to the land, to be held by them as the land is held, 
for the benefit of the congregation. 

§11. The said trustees may, in their own names, sue for and 
recover such land or property, and be sued in relation thereto. 
Such suit, notwithstanding the death of any of the said trus- 
tees, or the appointment of others, shall proceed in the names of 
the trustees by or against whom it was instituted. 



24 



REGISTER OF MARRIAGE. 



§ 12. Such trustees shall not take or hold at any one time 
more than two acres of land in an incorporated town ; nor more 
than thirty acres out of such a town. 

§ 13. Any one or more of the members of any religious con- 
gregation may, in his or their names, in behalf of such congre- 
gation, commence and prosecute a suit in equity against any 
such trustee, to compel him to apply such land or property for 
the use or benefit of the congregation, as his duty shall require. 
No member of the congregation need be made a defendant to 
such suit, but, in other respects, the same shall be proceeded in, 
heard and determined as other suits in equity, except that it 
may be proceeded in, notwithstanding the death of the plaintiff, 
as if he were still living. 

Note. — On the 3d of February, 1842, an act was passed by 
the General Assembly of Virginia, entitled "An act concerning 
conveyances or devises of places of public worship," which 
law was inserted in the Journal of 1848, by order of the Con- 
vention. 

As that law has been repealed by the above act, passed at the 
late revision of the Code of Virginia, which took effect on the 
1st July, 1850, the Secretary deems it his duty to publish the 
said act in the Journal. He would call attention to the fact, 
that under this law no land can hereafter be devised for the use 
and benefit of any religious congregation, but must be conveyed 
by deed in the lifetime of the donor, whilst the act of 1842 
legalized a devise, as well as a conveyance of lands for the use 
and benefit of any religious congregation as a place of public 
worship, or as a burial-place or parsonage. 



The following provisions of law relating to the Registration of 
Marriages are here inserted for the information of the Clergy : 
The last Constitution of Virginia, Article IV. Sec. 3b, says: 
" § 36. The General Assembly shall provide for the periodical 
registration in the several counties, cities, and towns, of the 
voters therein; and for the annual registration of the births, 
marriages and deaths in the white population, and of the births 



REGISTER OP MARRIAGE. 



25 



and deaths in the colored population of the same, distinguishing 
between the numbers of the free colored persons and slaves." 

In 1853, the Legislature enacted as follows: 

"§2. Henceforth it shall be the duty of every minister or 
other person celebrating a marriage, and of the clerk or keeper 
of the records of any religious society which solemnizes mar- 
riages by the consent of the parties in opan congregation, at 
once to make a record of every marriage between white persons 
solemnized by or before him, and within two months after such 
marriage to return a certificate thereof, signed by him, to the 
clerk of the court of the county or corporation in which the 
same is solemnized. Such record and certificate shall set forth, 
as far as the same can be ascertained, the date and place of the 
marriage, the full names of both the parties, their ages and con- 
dition before the marriage, (whether single or widowed,) the 
places of their birth and residence, the names of their parents 
and the occupation of the husband. 

5. If any minister who shall give bond in order to his 
being authorized to celebrate marriage in this State, shall fail to 
comply with the second section, the condition of such bond 
shall be deemed to be hereby broken, and he shall also be sub- 
ject to the penalty hereinafter prescribed for such failure. 

" § 6. Every such clerk of a court shall, on or before the first 
day of the next November term of his court, post, at the front 
door of his courthouse, a copy of the second section, with a 
statement of the penalties for violations thereof. 

26. If any clerk of a court, commissioner of the revenue, 
physician, surgeon, coroner or minister celebrating a marriage, 
or clerk or keeper of the records of any religious society, shall, 
in any book, register or record, which such officer or person is 
by this act required to keep or make, or in any copy or certifi- 
cate which by this act he is required to make or give, know- 
ingly make any false, erroneous or fraudulent entry, record, 
registration or written statement, he shall for every such offence 
forfeit not less than one hundred nor more than five hundred 
dollars. 

a §28. The auditor of public accounts shall furnish the 
clerk of every county and corporation court, and every commis- 
sioner of the revenue with all forms and instructions which he 
may deem necessary or proper for carrying this act into effect." 
Session Acts 1852-'3,j9. 40-43, chap. 25. 



26 



REGISTER OF MARRIAGE. 



In 1854, it was (i Resolved by the General Assembly of Virgi- 
nia, that it shall be the duty of the auditor of public accounts to 
furnish from time to time printed forms to the clerks of the seve- 
ral county courts, of the returns necessary to be made by minis- 
ters of the gospel under the second section of an act passed, 
eleventh of April, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, 
entitled an act concerning the registration of births, marriages, 
and deaths, and that said clerks distribute the same among the 
ministers of their several counties authorized to perform the 
rites of matrimony."— Acts 1853- '4, p. 139, JVb. 10. 

As to the bond referred to in the 5th section above, the Code, 
p. 469, §4, provides: 

" § 4. When a minister of the gospel shall, before the court 
of any county or corporation in this State, produce proof of his 
ordination, and of his being in regular communion with the 
religious society of which he is reputed a member, and give 
bond in the penalty of fifteen hundred dollars, such court may 
make an order authorizing him to celebrate the rites of mar- 
riage." 



CONSTITUTION 

AND 

CANONS 

FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF THE 

PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH 

IN THE 

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 

1853. 



CONSTITUTION, 

ADOPTED IN GENERAL CONVENTION, TN PHILADELPHIA, OCTOBER, 1789. 



ARTICLE I. 

There shall be a General Convention of the Protestant Epis- 
copal Church in the United States of America, on the first Wed- 
nesday in October, in every third year, from the year of our Lord 
one thousand eight hundred and forty-one, and in such a place as 
shall be determined by the Convention; and in case there shall 
be an epidemic disease, or any other good cause to render it ne- 
cessary to alter the place fixed on for any such meeting of the 
Convention, the Presiding Bishop shall have it in his power to 
appoint another convenient place (as near as may be to the place 
so fixed on) for the holding of such Convention; and special 
meetings may be called at other times, in the manner hereafter 
to be provided for; and this Church, in a majority of the Dio- 
ceses which shall have adopted this Constitution, shall be repre- 



28 



CONSTITUTION. 



sented, before they shall proceed to business; except that the 
representation from two Dioceses shall be sufficient to adjourn; 
and in all business of the Convention freedom of debate shall 
be allowed. 

ARTICLE Hi 

The Church in each Diocese shall be entitled to a represen- 
tation of both the clergy and the laity, which representation 
shall consist of one or more deputies, not exceeding four of each 
order, chosen by the Convention of the Diocese; and in all 
questions, when required by the clerical and lay representation 
from any Diocese, each order shall have one vote; and the ma- 
jority of suffrages by Dioceses shall be conclusive in each order, 
provided such majority comprehend a majority of the Dioceses 
represented in that order. The concurrence of both orders shall 
be necessary to constitute a vote of the Convention. If the. 
Convention of any Diocese should neglect or decline to appoint 
clerical deputies, or if they should neglect or decline to appoint 
lay deputies, or if any of those of either order appointed should 
neglect to attend, or be prevented by sickness or any other acci- 
dent, such Diocese shall nevertheless be considered as duly 
represented by such deputy or deputies as may attend, whether 
lay or clerical. And if, through the neglect of the Convention 
of any of the Churches which shall have adopted, or may here- 
after adopt, this Constitution, no deputies, either lay or clerical, 
should attend at any General Convention, the Church in such 
Diocese shall nevertheless be bound by the acts of such Con- 
vention. 

ARTICLE HI. 

The Bishops of this Church, when there shall be three or 
more, shall, whenever General Conventions are held, form a 
separate House, with a right to originate and propose acts for 
the concurrence of the House of Deputies, composed of clergy 
and laity; and when any proposed act shall have passed the 
House of Deputies, the same shall be transmitted to the House 
of Bishops, who shall have a negative thereupon; and all acts 
of the Convention shall be authenticated by both Houses. And 
in all cases, the House of Bishops shall signify to the Conven- 
tion their approbation or disapprobation (the latter with their 
reasons in writing) within three days after the proposed act shall 
have been reported to them for concurrence; and in failure 



CONSTITUTION. 



29 



thereof, it shall have the operation of a law. But until there 
shall be three or more Bishops, as aforesaid, any Bishop attend- 
ing a General Convention shall be a member ex officio, and shall 
vote with the clerical deputies of the Diocese to which he be- 
longs ; and a Bishop shall then preside. 

ARTICLE IV. 

The Bishop or Bishops in every Diocese shall be chosen 
agreeably to such rules as shall be fixed by the Convention of 
that Diocese; and every Bishop of this Church shall confine 
the exercise of his Episcopal office to his proper Diocese, unless 
requested to ordain or confirm, or perform any other act of the 
Episcopal office by any Church destitute of a Bishop. 

ARTICLE V. 

A Protestant Episcopal Church in any of the United States 
or any Territory thereof, not now represented, may, at any time 
hereafter, be admitted on acceding to this Constitution; and a 
new Diocese to be formed from one or more existing Dioceses, 
may be admitted under the following restrictions: 

No new Diocese shall be formed or erected within the limits 
of any other Diocese, nor shall any Diocese be formed by the 
junction of two or more Dioceses, or parts of Dioceses, unless 
with the consent of the Bishop and Convention of each of the 
Dioceses concerned, as well as of the General Convention. 

No such new Diocese shall be formed, which shall contain 
less than eight thousand square miles in one body, and thirty 
presbyters, who have been for at least one year canonically resi- 
dent within the bounds of such new Diocese, regularly settled 
in a parish or congregation, and qualified to vote for a Bishop. 
Nor shall such new Diocese be formed, if thereby any existing 
Dioceses shall be so reduced as to contain less than eight thou- 
sand square miles, or less than thirty presbyters, who have been 
residing therein, and settled and qualified as above mentioned. 

In case one Diocese shall be divided into two Dioceses, the 
Diocesan of the Diocese divided may elect the one to which 
he will be attached, and shall thereupon become the Diocesan 
thereof. And the Assistant Bishop, if there be one, may elect 
the one to which he will be attached; and if it be not the one 
elected by the Bishop, he shall be the Diocesan thereof. 

Whenever the division of the Diocese into two Dioceses shall 



30 



CONSTITUTION. 



be ratified by the General Convention, each of the two Dioceses 
shall be subject to the Constitution and Canons of the Diocese 
so divided, except as local circumstances may prevent, until the 
same may be altered in either Diocese by the Convention there- 
of. And whenever a Diocese shall be formed out of two or 
more existing Dioceses, the new Diocese shall be subject to the 
Constitution and Canons of that one of the said existing Dio- 
ceses, to which the greater number of clergymen shall have 
belonged prior to the erection of such new Diocese, until the 
same may be altered by the Convention of the new Diocese. 

ARTICLE VI. 

The mode of trying Bishops shall be provided by the General 
Convention. The court appointed for that purpose shall be 
composed of Bishops only. In every Diocese, the mode of 
trying Presbyters and Deacons may be instituted by the Con- 
vention of the Diocese. None but a Bishop shall pronounce 
seutence of admonition, suspension, or degradation from the 
ministry, on any clergyman, whether Bishop, Presbyter, or 
Deacon. 

ARTICLE VII. 

No person shall be admitted to holy orders until he shall have 
been examined by the Bishop and by two Presbyters, and shall 
have exhibited such testimonials and other requisites as the 
Canons, in that case provided, may direct. Nor shall any person 
be ordained until he shall have subscribed the following de- 
claration: 

I do believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Tes- 
tament to be the Word of God, and to contain all things neces- 
sary to salvation; and I do solemnly engage to conform to the 
doctrines and worship of the Protestant Episcopal Church in 
the United States." 

No person ordained by a foreign Bishop shall be permitted to 
officiate as a minister of this Church, until he shall have com- 
plied with the Canon or Canons in that case provided, and have 
also subscribed the aforesaid declaration. 

ARTICLE VIII. 

A book of Common Prayer, administration of the Sacraments, 
and other rites and ceremonies of the Church, Articles of Reli- 
gion, and a form and manner of making, ordaining and conse- 



CONSTITUTION. 



31 



crating Bishops, Priests, and Deacons, when established by this 
or a future General Convention, shall be used in the Protestant 
Episcopal Church in those Dioceses which shall have adopted 
this Constitution. No alteration or addition shall be made in 
the Book of Common Prayer, or other Offices of the Church, 
or the Articles of Religion, unless the same shall be proposed 
in one General Convention, and by a resolve thereof made 
known to the Convention of every Diocese, and adopted at the 
subsequent General Convention. 

ARTICLE IX. 

This Constitution shall be unalterable, unless in General 
Convention, by the Church, in a majority of the Dioceses which 
may have adopted the same; and all alterations shall be first 
proposed in our General Convention, and made known to the 
several Diocesan Conventions, before they shall be finally agreed 
to, or ratified in the ensuing General Convention. 

ARTICLE X. 

Bishops for foreign countries, on due application therefrom, 
maybe consecrated, with the approbation of the Bishops of this 
Church, or a majority of them, signified to the Presiding Bishop; 
he thereupon taking order for the same, and they being satisfied 
that the person designated for the office has been duly chosen, 
and properly qualified. The Order of Consecration to be con- 
formed, as nearly as may be, in the judgment of the Bishops, 
to the one used in this Church. Such Bishops, so consecrated, 
shall not be eligible to the office of Diocesan, or Assistant Bishop, 
in any Diocese in the United States, nor be entitled to a seat in 
the House of Bishops, nor exercise any Episcopal authority in 
said States. 

Done in the General Convention of the Bishops, Clergy, 
and Laity of the Church, the 2d day of October, 1789. 

Note. — When the Constitution was originally adopted, in 
August, 1789, the first Article provided that the Triennial Con- 
vention should be held on the first Tuesday in August. At the 
adjourned meeting of the Convention, held in October of the 
same year, it was provided that the second Tuesday in Septem- 
ber, in every third year, should be the time of meeting. The 



32 



CONSTITUTION. 



time was again changed to the third Tuesday in May, by the 
General Convention of 1804. — See Bioren's edition of the Jour- 
nals of the General Convention, 1817, pp. 61, 75 and 216. 

.The first Article was put into its present form at the General 
Convention of 1841. 

The third Article was so altered by the General Convention 
of 1808, as to give the House of Bishops a full veto upon the 
proceedings of the other House. — See Journals of General Con- 
vention, pp. 248, 249. 

The second sentence of the eighth Article was adopted at the 
General Convention of 1811. — See Journals of General Conven- 
tion, p. 274. 

The words, "or the Articles of Religion," were added to the 
eighth Article by the General Convention of 1829. 

The fifth Article was put into its present form at the General 
Convention of 1838. 

The same Convention adopted the following alterations. — See 
Journal of General Convention of 1838, p. 24. 

Strike out the word "States," wherever it occurs in the first 
and second Articles, except where it follows the word " United," 
in the first part of the first Article, and insert in lieu of the word 
" States," the word " Dioceses." Strike out the word "States," 
wherever it occurs in the second, third, and fourth Articles, and 
insert in lieu thereof the word "Dioceses." 

Strike out the words " or district," in the fourth Article. 

Strike out the word "State," in the sixth Article, and insert 
the word "Diocese." 

Strike out the word " States," in the eighth Article, and in- 
sert the word " Dioceses;" and in the eighth Article strike out 
the words "or States," after the words "every Diocese." 

Strike out the word "States," in the ninth Article, and insert 
the word "Dioceses." Strike out the word "State," in the 
ninth Article, and insert the word "Diocesan." 

The sixth Article was put into its present form at the General 
Convention of 1841. 

Article X. was finally agreed to and ratified in the General 
Convention of 1844. 



CANONS 



FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF THE 

PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH 

IN THE 

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 

CANONS 

Passed in General' Convention, in New York, October, 1832, 
being the Substance of various Canons adopted in General 
Conventions of said^Church, from A. D. 1789, to A. D. 1832. 



CANON 1. 

Of the Orders of Ministers in this Church. 

[This Canon was adopted in 1789.] 

In this Church there shall always be three orders in the Minis- 
try, viz: Bishops, Priests, and Deacons. 

CANON II. 

Of the Election of Bishops. 

[Repealed by Canon I. of 1835,*] 

CANON III. 

Of the Certificates to be produced on the part of the Bishop Elect. 

[Former Canons on this subject were the second of 1789, the fourth of 1792, and 
the third of 1808.] 

Sec. 1. Every Bishop elect, before his consecration, shall pro- 
duce to the House of Bishops, from the Convention by whom he 
is elected, evidence of such election, and from the House of Cle- 

* Now Canon II. of 1844 ] 

c 



34 



CANONS. 



rical and Lay Deputies in General Convention, evidence of their 
approbation of his testimonials, and of their assent to his conse- 
cration, and also certificates respectively, in the following words: 
such certificates, in both cases, to be signed by a constitutional 
majority of the Clerical and Lay Deputies, composing the State 
Convention, or the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, as the 
case may be. The same evidence of election by, and the same 
certificate from the members of the State Convention, shall be 
presented to the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies in General 
Convention. 

Testimony from the members of the Convention in the Diocese 
from whence the person is recommended for Oonsecration. 

We, whose names are underwritten, fully sensible how import- 
ant it is that the sacred office of a Bishop should not be unwor- 
thily conferred, and firmly persuaded that it is our duty to bear 
testimony on this solemn occasion, without partiality or affection, 
do, in the presence of Almighty God, testify that A. B. is not, 
so far as we are informed, justly liable to evil report, either for 
error in religion or for viciousness in life ; and that we do not 
know or believe there is any impediment on account of which he 
ought not to be consecrated to that holy office. . We do, more- 
over, jointly and severally declare, that we do in 1 our conscience 
believe him to be of such sufficiency in good learning, such sound- 
ness in the faith, and of such virtuous and pure manners, and 
godly conversation, that he is apt and meet to exercise the office 
of a Bishop, to the honor of God and the edifying of His Church, 
and to be a wholesome example to the flock of Christ. 

The above certificate shall be presented to the House of Cleri- 
cal and Lay Deputies in General Convention. 

Testimony from the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies in 
General Convention. 

We, whose names are underwritten, fully sensible how import- 
ant it is that the sacred office of a Bishop should not be unwor- 
thily conferred, and firmly persuaded that it is our duty to bear 
testimony on this solemn occasion, without partiality or affection, 
do, in the presence of Almighty God, testify that A. B. is not, so 
far as we are informed, justly liable to evil report, either for 



CANONS. 



35 



error in religion or for viciousness of life ; and that we do not 
know or believe there is any impediment on account of which he 
ought not to be consecrated to that holy office ; but that he hath, 
as we believe, led his life for three years last past, piously, so- 
berly, and honestly. 

Sec. 2. If the House of Bishops consent to the consecration, 
the Presiding Bishop, with any two Bishops, may proceed to 
perform the same, or any three Bishops to whom he may com- 
municate the testimonials. 

CANON IV. 

Of Standing Committees. 

[Former Canons on this subject were the sixth of 1789, the second of 1795, the 
fourth and twenty-fourth of 1808.] 

Sec 1. In every Diocese there shall be a Standing Commit- 
tee, to be appointed by the Convention thereof, whose duties, 
except so far as provided for by the Canons of the General Con- 
vention, may be prescribed by the Canons of the respective 
Dioceses. They shall elect from their own body a President 
and a Secretary. They may meet on their own adjournment, 
from time to time; and the President shall have power to sum- 
mon special meetings whenever he shall deem it necessary. 

Sec. 2. In every Diocese where there is a Bishop, the Stand- 
ing Committee shall be a Council of Advice to the Bishop. 
They shall be summoned on the requisition of the Bishop, 
whenever he shall wish for their advice. And they may meet 
of their own accord, and agreeably to their own rules, when 
they may be disposed to advise the Bishop. 

Sec 3. When there is no Bishop, the Standing Committee 
is the Ecclesiastical authority for all purposes declared in these 
Canons. 

CANON V. 

Of the Consecration of Bishops during the Reeess of the Gen- 
eral Convention. 

[Former Canons on this subject were the second of 1799, the fifth of 1808, and 
the sixth of 1820.] 

Sec 1. If, during the recess of the General Convention, the 
Church, in any Diocese, should be desirous of the consecration 
of a Bishop elect, the Standing Committee of the Church in 
c 2 



36 



CANONS 



such Diocese may, by their President, or by some person or 
persons specially appointed, communicate the desire to the 
Standing Committees of the Churches in the different Dio- 
ceses, together with copies of the necessary testimonials; and if 
the major number of the Standing Committees shall consent to 
the proposed consecration, the Standing Committee of the Dio- 
cese concerned shall forward the evidence of such consent, 
together with other testimonials, to the Presiding Bishop of the 
House of Bishops, or in case of his death, to the Bishop who, 
according to the rules of the House of Bishops, is to preside at 
the next General Convention, who shall communicate the same 
to all the Bishops of this Church in the United States; and if a 
majority of the Bishops consent to the consecration, the Presi- 
ding Bishop, or Bishop aforesaid, with any two Bishops, may 
proceed to perform the same; or any three Bishops to whom he 
may communicate the testimonials. 

Sec. 2. The evidence of the consent of the different Stand- 
ing Committees shall be in the form prescribed for the House of 
Clerical and Lay Duputies in General Convention; and without 
the aforesaid requisites, no consecration shall take place during 
the recess of the General Convention. But in case the election 
of a Bishop shall take place within a year before the meeting of 
the General Convention, all matters relative to the consecration 
shall be deferred until the said meeting. 

CANON VI. 
Of Assistant Bishops. 

[The former Canon on this subject was the fifth of 1829.] 

When a Bishop of a Diocese is unable, by reason of old age, 
or other permanent cause of infirmity, to discharge his Epis- 
copal duties, one Assistant Bishop may be elected by and for 
the said Diocese, who shall in all cases succeed the Bishop in 
case of surviving him. The Assistant Bishop shall perform 
such Episcopal duties, and exercise such Episcopal authority in 
the Diocese, as the Bishop shall assign to him; and in case of 
the Bishop's inability to assign such duties declared by the 
Convention of the Diocese, the Assistant Bishop shall, during 
such inability, perform all the duties and exercise all the author- 
ities which appertain to the office of Bishop. No person shall 
be elected or consecrated a Suffragan Bishop, nor shall there be 



CANONS. 



37 



more than one Assistant Bishop in a Diocese at the same 
time. 

CANON VII. 

Of the performance of Episcopal Duties in vacant Dioceses. 
[Repealed by Canon III. of 1838.*] 

CANON VIII. 

- Of the age of those who are to be Ordained or Consecrated. 

[Former Canons on this subject were the fourth of 1789, the third of 1795, and 
the sixth of 1808.] 

Deacon's orders shall not be conferred on any person until he 
shall be twenty-one years old, nor Priest's orders on any one 
until he shall be twenty- four years old. And no Deacon shall 
be ordained Priest, unless he shall have been a Deacon one 
year, except for reasonable causes it shall otherwise seem good 
unto the Bishop. No man shall be consecrated a Bishop of this 
Church until he shall be thirty years old. 

CANON IX. * 

Of Candidates for Orders. 
[Repealed by Canon IV. of 1838.fj 

CANON X. 

Of the Conduct required in Candidates for Orders. 

[The former Canon on this subject was the eighth of 1808.] 

The Bishop, or other Ecclesiastical authority who may have 
the superintendence of Candidates for Orders, shall take care 
that they pursue their studies diligently, and under proper di- 
rection, and that they do not indulge in any vain or trifling con- 
duct, or in any amusements most liable to be abused to licen • 
tiousness, or unfavorable to that seriousness, and to those pious 
and studious habits, which become those who are preparing for 
the holy ministry. 

CANON XI. 

Of Candidates for Orders who are Lay Readers. 

[Former Canons on this subject were the tenth of 1804, and the p.ineteenth of 

1808.] 

No candidate for holy orders shall take upon himself to per- 

* Now Canon IV. of 1847. 
t Now Canon VI. of 1847. 



38 



CANONS. 



form the service of the Church , but by a license from the Bishop, 
or, if there be no Bishop, from the clerical members of the 
Standing Committee of the Diocese, in which such candidate 
may wish to perform the service. And such candidate shall 
submit to all the regulations which the Bishop or said, clerical 
members may prescribe; he shall not use the absolution or bene- 
diction; he shall not assume the dress 'appropriate to Clergy- 
men ministering in the congregation; and shall officiate from the 
desk only; he shall conform to the directions of the Bishop or 
said clerical members, as to the sermons or homilies to be read; 
nor shall any lay reader deliver sermons of his own composition; 
nor, except in cases of extraordinary emergency, or very pecu- 
liar expediency, perform any part of the service, when a Clergy- 
man is present in the congregation. 

CANON XII. 

Of Candidates who may be refused Orders. 

[Former Canons on this subject were the ninth of 1804, and the sixteenth of 1808.] 

No Bishop shall ordain any candidate, until he has inquired 
of him whether he has ever, directly or indirectly, applied for 
orders in any other Diocese; and if the Bishop has reason to 
believe that the candidate has been refused orders in any other 
Diocese, he shall write to the Bishop of the Diocese, or if there 
be no Bishop, to the Standing Committee, to know whether 
any just cause exists why the candidate should not be ordained. 
When any Bishop rejects the application of any candidate for 
orders, he shall immediately give notice to the Bishop of every 
Diocese, or, where there is no Bishop, to the Standing Com- 
mittee. 

CANON XIII. 

Of the Learning of those who are to be O/dained. 
[Repealed by Canon V. of 1838.] 

CANON XIY. 

Of the Preparatory Exercises of a Candidate for Deacon's 

Orders. 

[Repealed by Canon V. of 1841.] 



CANONS. 



39 



CANON XV. 

Of the Testimonials to be produced on the part of those who are 
to be Ordained. 

[Former Canons on this subject were the sixth of 1789, the fourth of 1792, the 
second of 1795, and the twelfth of 1808.] 

Sec. 1. No person shall be ordained Deacon or Priest in this 
Church, unless he exhibit to the Bishop the following testimo- 
nials from the Standing Committee of the Diocese for which he 
is to be ordained, which recommendation shall be signed by the 
names of a majority of all the Committee, the Committee being 
duly convened, and shall be in the following words: 

e< We, whose names are hereunder written, testify that A. B. 
hath laid before us satisfactory testimonials, that for the space 
of three years last past, he hath lived piously, soberly, and 
honestly; and hath not written, taught, or held anything con- 
trary to the doctrine or discipline of the Protestant Episcopal 
Church; and, moreover, we think him a person worthy to be 

admitted to the sacred order of . In witness whereof, 

we have hereunto set our hands, this day of , in 

the year of our Lord ." 

Sec. 2. But before a Standing Committee shall proceed to 
recommend any candidate, as aforesaid, to the Bishop, such 
candidate shall produce from the Minister and Vestry of the 
parish where he resides, or from the vestry alone, if the parish 
be vacant, or if the applicant be the Minister of the Parish, a 
Deacon desirous of Priest's orders, or if there be no vestry, 
from at least twelve respectable persons of the Protestant Epis- 
copal Church, testimonials of his piety, good morals, and or- 
derly conduct, in the following form: 

" We, whose names are hereunto written, do testify, from 
evidence satisfactory to us, that A. B., for the space of three 
years last past, hath lived piously, soberly, and honestly; and 
hath not, so far as we know or believe, written, taught or held 
any thing contrary to the doctrine or discipline of the Protestant 
Episcopal Church; and moreover, we think him a person wor- 
thy to be admitted to the sacred order of . In witness 

whereof, we have hereunto set our hands a this day of , 

in the year of our Lord . " 



40 



CANONS. 



He shall also lay before the Standing Committee testimonials, 
signed by at least one respectable Presbyter of the Protestant 
Episcopal Church in the United States, in the following form: 

" I do certify that A. B., for the space of three years last past, 
hath lived piously, soberly, and honestly, and has not, so far as 
I know or believe, written, taught, or held anything contrary to 
the doctrine or discipline of the Protestant Episcopal Church; 
and, moreover, I think him a person worthy to be admitted to 

the sacred order of . This testimonial is founded on my 

personal knowledge of the said A. B., for one year last past, and 
for the residue of the said time, upon evidence that is satisfactory 
to me. In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, this 
day of , in the year of our Lord ." 

Sec. 3. But in case a Candidate, for some peculiar circum- 
stances not affecting his pious or moral character, should be una- 
ble to procure testimonials from the Minister and Vestry of the 
parish where he resides, the Standing Committee may accept tes- 
timonials of the purport above stated from at least twelve re- 
spectable members of the Protestant Episcopal Church, and from 
at least one respectable Presbyter of the said Church who has 
been personally acquainted with the candidate at least for one year. 

Sec. 4. Every Candidate for holy orders, who may be re- 
commended by the Standing Committee of any Church desti- 
tute of a Bishop, if he have resided for the greater part of the 
three years last past within the Diocese of any Bishop shall apply 
to such Bishop for ordination. And such Candidate shall produce 
the usual testimonials, as well from the Committee of the Diocese 
in which he has resided, as from the Committee of the Church in 
the Diocese for which he is to be ordained. 

Sec 5. In the case of a Candidate for Priest's orders, who 
has been ordained a Deacon within three years preceding, the 
testimonials above prescribed may be so altered as to extend to 
such portion only of the three years preceding his application for 
Priest's orders as have elapsed since his ordination as Deacon; 
and the Standing Committee shall allow the testimonials so al- 
tered the same effect as if in the form prescribed, and shall sign 
their own testimonial in such altered form, with the same effect 
as if in the form above prescribed, unless some circumstance shall 
have occurred that tends to invalidate the force of the evidence 
on which the Candidate was ordained Deacon. 



CANONS . 



41 



CANON XVI. 

Of Candidates coming from places within the United States, in 
which the Constitution of this Church has not been acceded to. 

[Former Canons on this subject were the eighth of 1804, and the fourteenth 

of 1808.] 

It is hereby declared, that the Canons of this church which 
respect candidates for holy orders, shall affect as well those 
coming from places in the United States in which the Constitu- 
tion of this Church has not been acceeded to, as those residing 
in States or Territories in which it has been adopted, and in such 
cases, every candidate shall produce to the Bishop to whom he 
may apply for holy orders, the requisite testimonials, subscribed 
by the Standing Committee of the Diocese into which he has 
come. 

CANON XVII. 
Of Deacons. 

[The former Canon on this subject was the thirteenth of 1808.] 

Every Deacon shall be subject to the regulations of the Bishop, 
or if there be no Bishop, of the clerical members of the Standing 
Committee of the Diocese for which he is ordained, unless he re- 
ceive letters of dismission therefrom to the Bishop or Ecclesias- 
tical authority of some other Diocese, and be thereupon received 
as a Clergyman of such other Diocese; and he shall officiate in 
such places as the Bishop or the said clerical members may di- 
rect. It is hereby recommended, that at the time a candidate is 
finally examined for Deacon's orders, the Bishop shall assign to 
him in writing the subjects or studies on which it is expedient 
that he should be particularly examined before being ordained 
Priest ; and with that view name also some author who has 
treated of such subjects or studies, from among the works re- 
commended by the House of Bishops. And the said Deacon shall 
deliver this document to the Bishop who examines him for Priest's 
orders. 

CANON XVIII. 

Of the Preparatory Exercises of a Candidate for Priest' 's 

Orders. 

[The former Canon on this subject was the eleventh of 1808.] 
A candidate for Priest's orders shall, before his ordination, be 



42 



CANONS. 



required to undergo an examination in the presence of the Bishop, 
and two or more Presbyters, to be named by him, on any leading 
studies prescribed by the House of Bishops. 

CANON XIX. 
Of the Titles of those wlw are to be ordained Priests. 

[Former Canons on this subject were the fifth of 1789, and the thirteenth of 

1808.] 

No person shall be ordained Priest, unless he shall produce to 
the Bishop a satisfactory certificate from some church, parish, or 
Congregation, that he is engaged with them, and that they will re- 
ceive him as their Minister, or unless he be a Missionary under 
the Ecclesiastical authority of the Diocese to which he belongs; 
or in the employment of some Missionary Society recognized by 
the General Convention; or, unless he be engaged as a Professor, 
Tutor, or Instructor of youth, in some College, Academy, or 
other seminary of learning, duly incorporated. 

CANON XX. 
Of the Times of Ordination. 

[Former Canons on this subject were the eighth of 1789, and the fifteenth 

of 1808.] 

Agreeably to the practice of the Primitive church, the stated 
times of Ordination shall be on the Sundays following the Ember 
Weeks, viz : the Second Sunday in Lent, the Feast of Trinity, 
and the Sundays after the Wednesdays following the 14th day of 
September, and the 13th of December. Occasional Ordinations 
may be held at such other times as the Bishop shall appoint. 

CANON XXI. 

Of those who have officiated as Ministers among other Denomi- 
nations of Christians, and apply for Orders in this Ohurch. 

[Repealed by Canon III. of 1835.*] 

CANON XXII. 
Of Clergymen ordained for Foreign Parts. 

[The former Canon on this subject was the eighteenth of 1808.] 
No Bishop of this Church shall ordain any person to officiate 

* Now Canon VII. of 1838. 



CANONS. 



43 



in any Congregation or Church destitute of a Bishop, situated 
without the jurisdiction of these United States, until the usual 
testimony from the Standing Committee, founded upon sufficient 
evidence of his soundness in the faith, and of his pious and moral 
character, has been obtained; nor until the candidate has been 
examined on the studies prescribed by the Canons of this Church. 
And should any such Clergyman, so ordained, wish to settle in 
any Congregation of this Church, he must obtain a special license 
therefor from the Bishop, and officiate as a probationer for at least 
one year. 

CANON XXIII. 

Of Clergymen Ordained by Foreign Bishops, or by Bishops not 
in Communion with this Church and desirous of officiating or 
settling in the Church. 

[Repealed by Canon VI. of 1841.*] 

CANON XXIV. 

Of Ministers Celebrating Divine Service in a Foreign Language. 

[The former Canon on this subject was the sixth of 1829.] 

When a Clergyman coming from a foreign country, and pro- 
fessing to be regularly ordained, shall be called to a Church of 
this Communion, in which Divine Service is celebrated in a for- 
eign language, he may, with the approbation of the Bishop of 
the Diocese in which such Church is situated, acting with the 
advice and consent of the Standing Committee, or with the unani- 
mous approbation of the Standing Committee, if there be no 
Bishop, and on complying with the other requisitions of the Ca- 
nons, settle in the said Church, as the Minister thereof, without 
having resided one year in the United States, anything in Canon 
XXIII. to the contrary notwithstanding. And when a person, 
not a citizen of the United States, who has been acknowledged 
as an ordained Minister of any other denomination of Christians, 
applies for orders in this Church, on the ground of a call to a 
Church in which Divine Service is celebrated in a foreign lan- 
guage, the Standing Committee of the Diocese to which the said 
Church belongs, may, on sufficient evidence of fitness according 
to the Canons, and by a unanimous vote at a meeting duly con- 

* Now Canon IX. of 1844. 



44 



CANONS . 



vened, recommend him to the Bishop for orders, and the Bishop 
may then ordain him, and he may be settled and instituted into 
the said Church, without his producing a testimonial to his cha- 
racter by a Clergyman, from his personal knowledge of him for 
one year, and without his having been a year resident in this 
country, anything in any other Canon of this Church to the con- 
trary notwithstanding: Provided, that in both of the above cases, 
the person applying produce a certificate, signed by at least four 
respectable members of this Church, that they have satisfactory 
reason to believe the testimonials to his religious, moral, and lit- 
erary qualifications, to be entitled to full credit. 

CANON XXV. 

Of Episcopal Visitations. 
[Repealed by Canon IV. of 1850.] 

CANON XXVI. 
Of the duty of Ministers in regard to Episcopal Visitations. 

[Former Canons on this subject were the eleventh of 1789, and the twenty-first 

of 1808.] 

Sec. 1. It shall be the duty of Ministers to prepare young 
persons and others for the holy ordinance of Confirmation. And 
on notice being received from the Bishop, of his intention to visit 
any Church, which notice shall be at least one month before the 
intended Visitation, the Minister shall give immediate notice to 
his parishioners individually, as opportunity may offer; and also 
to the Congregation on the first occasion of public worship after 
the receipt of said notice. And he shall be ready to present, for 
Confirmation, such persons as he shall think properly qualified, 
and shall deliver to the Bishop a list of the names of those con- 
firmed. 

Sec. 2. And at every Visitation, it shall be the duty of 
the Minister, and of the Churchwardens or Vestry, to give infor- 
mation to the Bishop, of the state of the Congregation, under 
such heads as shall have been committed to them in the notice 
given as aforesaid. 

Sec. 3. And further, the Ministers and Churchwardens of 
such Congregations as cannot be conveniently visited in any year, 
shall bring or send to the Bishop, at the stated meeting of the 



CANONS. 



45 



Convention of the Diocese, information of the state of the Con- 
gregation, under such heads as shall have been committed to 
them, at least one month before the meeting of the Convention. 

CANON XXVII. 

Of Episcopal Charges and Pastoral Letters. 

[The former Canon on this subject was the twenty-third of 1808.] 

It is deemed proper that every Bishop of this Church shall de- 
liver, at least once in three years, a charge to the Clergy of the 
Diocese, unless prevented by reasonable cause. And it is also 
deemed proper, that from time to time he shall address to the 
people of this Diocese, Pastoral Letters on some points of Chris- 
tian doctrine, worship, or manners. 

CANON XXVIII. 

Of Parochial Instruction. 

[The former Canon on this subject was the twenty-second of 1808.] 

The Ministers of this Church who have charge of parishes or 
cures, shall not only be diligent in instructing the children in the 
Catechism, but shall also, by stated Catechetical lectures and in- 
struction, be diligent in informing the youth and others in the 
Doctrines, Constitution and Liturgy of the Church. 

CANON XXIX. 

Of the Duty of Ministers to keep a Register. 

[Former Canons on this subject were the fifteenth of 1789, and the fortieth 

of 1808.] 

Sec. 1. Every Minister of this Church shall keep a Regis- 
ter of Baptisms, Confirmations, Communicants, Marriages and 
Funerals, within his cure, agreeably to such rules as may be pro- 
vided by the Convention of the Diocese where his cure lies ; and 
if none should be provided, then in such manner as in his discre- 
tion he shall think best suited to the uses of such a Register. 

And the intention of the Register of Baptisms is hereby de- 
clared to be, as for other good uses, so especially for the proving 
of the right of Church-membership of those who may have been 
admitted into this Church by the holy ordinance of Baptism. 

Sec 2. And further, every Minister of this Church shall 



46 



CANONS. 



make out and continue, as far as practicable, a list of all families 
and adult persons within his cure ; to remain for the use of his 
successor, to be continued by him, and by every future Minister 
in the same parish. 

CANON XXX. 

Of the Election and Institution of Ministers into Parishes or 

Churches. 

[Repealed by Canon XIV. of 1853.] 

CANON XXXI. 

Of the officiating of Ministers of this Church in the Churches 
or within the Parochial Cures of other Clergymen. 

[Repealed by Canon IX. of 1853.] 

CANON XXXII. 

Of Episcopal Resignations. 
[Repealed by Canon IV. of 1844.] 

CANON XXXIII. 

Of the Dissolution of all Pastoral Connection between Ministers 
and their Congregations. 

[Former Canons on this subject were the second of 1804, and the thirtieth 

of 1808.] 

Sec 1. When any Minister has been regularly instituted or 
settled in a parish or church, he shall not be dismissed without 
the concurrence of the Ecclesiastical authority of the Diocese; 
and in case of his dismission without such concurrence, the ves- 
try or congregation of such parish or church, shall have no right 
to a representation in the Convention of the Diocese, until they 
have made such satisfaction as the Convention may require. Nor 
shall any Minister leave his Congregation against their will, 
without the concurrence of the Ecclesiastical authority afore- 
said; and if he shall leave them without such concurrence, he 
shall not be allowed to take a seat in any Convention of this 
Church, or be eligible into any church or parish, until he shall 
have made such satisfaction as the Ecclesiastical authority of the 
Diocese may require. 



CANONS. 47 

Sec. 2. In case of the regular and canonical dissolution -iiSf 
the connection between a Minister and his congregation, the 
Bishop, or, if there be no Bishop, the Standing Committee, shall 
direct the Secretary of the Convention to record the same. But 
if the dissolution of the connection between any Minister and his 
congregation be not regular or canonical, the Bishop or Standing 
Committee shall lay the same before the Convention of the Dio- 
cese, in order that the above mentioned penalties may take effect. 

This Canon shall not be obligatory upon those Dioceses with 
whose usages, laws, or charters, it interferes. 

CANON XXXIV. 

Of Differences between Ministers and their Congregations. 

[Former Canons on this subject were the fourth of 1804, and the thirty-second 

of 1808.] 

In cases of controversy between Ministers who now, or may 
hereafter, hold the Rectorship of churches or parishes, and the 
vestry or congregation of such churches or parishes, which con- 
troversies are of such a nature as cannot be settled by them- 
selves, the parties, or either of them, shall make application to 
the Bishop of the Diocese, or in case there be no Bishop, to the 
Convention of the same. And if it appear to the Bishop and 
a majority of the Presbyters, convened after a summons of the 
whole belonging to the Diocese, or, if there be no Bishop, to the 
Convention or the Standing Committee of the Diocese, if the au- 
thority should be committed to them by the Convention, that the 
controversy has proceeded to such lengths as to preclude all hope 
of its favorable termination, and that a dissolution of the con- 
nection which exists between them is indispensably necessary to 
restore the peace and promote the prosperity of the Church, the 
Bishop and his said Presbyters, or, if there be no Bishop, the 
Convention or the Standing Committee of the Diocese, if the au- 
thority should be committed to them by the Convention, shall 
recommend to such Ministers to relinquish their titles to their 
Rectorship, on such conditions as may appear reasonable and pro- 
per to the Bishop and his said Presbyters, or, if there be no 
Bishop, to the Convention, or the Standing Committee of the 
Diocese, if the authority should be committed to them by the 
Convention. And if such Rectors or congregations refuse to 
comply with such recommendation, the Bishop and his said Pres- 



48 



CANONS. 



byters, or, if there be no Bishop, the Convention, or the Stand- 
ing Committee of the Diocese, if the authority should be com- 
mitted to them by the Convention, with the aid and consent of a 
Bishop, may, at their discretion, proceed, according to the Ca- 
nons of the Church, to suspend the former from the exercise of 
any ministerial duties within the Diocese, and prohibit the latter 
from a seat in the Convention until they retract such refusal, and 
submit to the terms of the recommendation : and any Minister so 
suspended shall not be permitted, during his suspension, to exer- 
cise any ministerial duties. This Canon shall apply also to the 
cases of Assistant Ministers and their congregations. 

CANON XXXV. 

Of Ministers removing from one Diocese to another. 

[Repealed by Canon IV. of 1835.*] 

CANON XXXVI. 

Of the Officiating of Persons not Ministers of this Church. 

[Former Canons on this subject were the fifth of 1792, and the thirty-fifth of 

1808.] 

No person shall be permitted to officiate in any congregation 
of this Church, without first producing the evidences of his being 
a Minister thereof, to the Minister, or, in case of vacancy or ab- 
sence, to the churchwardens, vestrymen, or trustees of the con- 
gregation. 

CANON XXXVII. 

Of Offences for which Ministers shall be Tried and Punished. 

[Former Canons on this subject were the thirteenth of 1789, the first of 1801, the 
the twenty-sixth of 1808, and the second of 1829. 

Sec. I. Every Minister shall be liable to presentment and 
trial, for any crime or gross immorality, for disorderly conduct, 
for drunkenness, for profane swearing, for frequenting places most 
liable to be abused to licentiousness, and for violation of the Con- 
stitution or Canons of this Church, or of the Diocese to which 
he belongs; and on being found guilty, he shall be admonished, 
suspended, or degraded, according to the Canons of the Diocese 



* Now Canon VII. of 1850. 



CANONS. 



49 



in which the trial takes place, until otherwise provided for by the 
General Convention. 

Sec. 2. If any Minister of this Church shall be accused, by 
public rumor, of discontinuing all exercise of the ministerial 
office without lawful cause, or of living in the habitual disuse 
of public worship, or of the Holy Eucharist, according to the 
ojfices of this Church, or of being guilty of scandalous, dis- 
orderly, or immoral conduct, or of violating the Canons, or 
preaching or inculcating heretical doctrine, it shall be the duty 
of the Bishop, or if there be no Bishop, the clerical members of 
the Standing Committee, to see that an inquiry be instituted as 
to the truth of such public rumor. And in case of the individual 
being proceeded against and convicted, according to such rules 
or process as may be provided by the Conventions of the re- 
spective Dioceses, he shall be admonished, suspended, or de- 
graded, as the nature of the case may require, in conformity 
with their respective Constitutions and Canons. 

CANON XXXVIII. 

Of a Minister declaring that he will no longer be a Minister of 

this Church, 

[Repealed by Canon V. of 1850.] 

CANON XXXIX. 

Of Degradation from the Ministry, and of Publishing the 
Sentence thereof. 

[Former Canons on this subject were the third of 1792, and the twenty-seventh 

of 1808.] 

Sec. 1. When any Minister is degraded from the Holy Mi- 
nistry, he is degraded therefrom entirely, and not from a higher 
to a lower order of the same. Deposition, displacing, and all 
like expressions, are the same as degradation. No degraded 
Minister shall be restored to the Ministry. 

Sec. 2. Whenever a Clergyman shall be degraded, the 
Bishop who pronounces sentence shall, without delay, give 
notice thereof to every Minister and Vestry in the Diocese, and 
also to all the Bishops of Ihis Church, and where there is no 
Bishop, to the Standing Committee. 

D 



50 



CANONS . 



CANON XL. 

Of a Clergyman in any Diocese chargeable with Misdemeanor in 

any other. 

[Repealed by Canon VI. of 1850.} 

CANON XLL 
Of the Due Celebration of Sundays. 

[Former Canons on this subject were the fourteenth of 1789, and the thirty-ninth 

of 1808.] 

All persons within this Church shall celebrate and keep the 
Lord's day, commonly called Sunday, in hearing the word of 
God read and taught, in private and public prayer, in other 
exercises of devotion, and in acts of charity, using all godly 
and sober conversation. 

CANON XL1I. 
Of Orimes and Scandals to be Censured. 

[Former Canons on this subject were the twelfth of 1789, and the twenty-fifth of 
1808, and the third of 1817.] 

Sec. 1. If any persons within this Church offend their 
brethren by any wickedness of life, such persons shall be re- 
pelled from the Holy Communion agreeably to the rubric. 

Sec. 2. There being the provision in the second rubric, be- 
fore the Communion Service, requiring that every Minister 
repelling from the Communion shall give an account of the 
same to the Ordinary; it is hereby provided, that on the infor- 
mation to the effect stated being laid before the Ordinary, that 
is, the Bishop, it shall not be his duty to institute an inquiry, 
unless there be a complaint made to him in writing by the 
repelled party. But on receiving complaint it shall be the duty 
of the Bishop, uuless he thinks fit to restore him, from the 
insufficiency of the cause assigned by the Minister, to institute 
an inquiry, as may be directed by the Canons of the Diocese 
in which the event has taken place. And the notice given as 
above by the Minister, shall be a sufficient presentation of the 
party repelled. 

Sec. 3. In the case of a great heinousness of offence on the 
part of members of this Chuch, they maybe proceeded against, 
to the depriving them of all privileges, of Church membership, 



CANONS. 



51 



according to such rules or process as may be provided by the 
General Convention ; and until such rules or process shall be 
provided, by such as may be provided, by the different State 
Conventions. 

CANON XLIII. 

Of a Congregation in any Diocese uniting with any other 

Diocese. 

[Former Canons on this subject were the eighth of 1795, the thirty-seventh of 
1808, the first of 1817, and the second of 1820.] 

Whereas, a question may arise, whether a congregation within 
the Diocese of any Bishop, or within any Diocese in which 
there is not yet any Bishop settled, may unite themselves with 
the Church in any other Diocese, it is hereby determined and 
declared, that all such unions shall be considered as irregular 
and void j and that every congregation of this Church shall be 
considered as belonging to the body of the Church of the Dio- 
cese within the limits of whieh they dwell, or within which 
there is seated a Church to which they belong. And no Clergy- 
man having a parish or cure in more than one Diocese, shall 
have a seat in the Convention of any Diocese other than that 
in which he resides. 

CANON XLIV. 

Of the Mode of Publishing Authorized Editions of the Standard 
Bible of this Church. 
[The former Canon on this subject 'was the second of 1823.] 

The Bishop of this Church in any Diocese, or, where there 
is no Bishop, the Standing Committee, is authorized to appoint 
from time to time, some suitable person or persons, to compare 
and correct all new editions of the Bible by the Standard Edi- 
tion agreed upon by the General Convention. And a certificate 
of their having been so compared and corrected, shall be pub- 
lished with said book. 

The following Resolution was ordered to accompany this Canon : 
Resolved by the two Houses of Convention, That it be recommended to every 
future Convention to appoint a Joint Committee, to whom there may be com- 
municated all errors, if any, in Editions of the Bible printed under the operation 
of a certain Canon of this Convention ; such errors to be notified on the Journal 
of the Convention, to wh'ch they may at any time be presented by the Joint 
Committee. 



52 



CANONS. 



CANON XLV. 

Of the Use of the Book of Common Prayer. 

[Former Canons on this subject were the tenth of 1789, and the thirty-fourth 

of 1808.] 

Every Minister shall, before all sermons and lectures, and on 
all other occasions of public worship, use the Book of Common 
Prayer, as the same is or may be established by the authority of 
the General Convention of this Church. And in performing 
said Service, no other prayers shall be used than those pre- 
scribed by the said book. 

CANON XLVI. 

Of the Mode of Publishing Authorized Editions of the Book of 
Common Prayer, fyc. 

[Repealed by Canon VI. of 1835.*] 

CANON XLVII. 

Of Forms of Prayer or Thanksgiving, for extraordinary oc- 
casions. 

[Former Canons on this subject were the ninth of 1795, asd thirty-eighth of 1808.] 

The Bishop of each Diocese may compose forms of prayer or 
thanksgiving, as the case may require, for extraordinary occa- 
sions, and transmit them to each Clergyman within his Diocese, 
whose duty it shall be to use such forms in his Church on such 
occasions. And the clergy in those States or Dioceses, or other 
places within the bounds of this Church, in which there is no 
Bishop, may use the form of prayer or thanksgiving composed 
by the Bishop of any Diocese. The Bishop in each Diocese 
may also compose forms of prayer to be used before legislative 
and other public bodies. 

CANON XLVIII. 
Of a List of the Ministers of this Church. 

[Former Canons on this subject were the sixteenth of 1789, the first of 1792, and 
the forty-first of 1808.] 

Sec. 1. The Secretary of the House of Clerical and Lay 
Deputies shall keep a register of all the Clergy of this Church, 



* Now Canon VI. of 1847. 



CANONS. 



53 



whose names shall be delivered to him in the following manner: 
that is to say, eveiy Bishop of this Church, or, where there is 
no Bishop, the Standing Committee of the Diocese, shall at the 
time of every General Convention, deliver or cause to be deliv- 
ered to the said Secretary, a list of the names of all the Ministers 
of this Church in their proper Diocese, annexing the names of 
their respective cures, or of their stations in any Colleges or 
other Seminaries of learning; or, in regard to those who have 
not any cures or other stations, their places of residence only. 
And the said list shall, from time to time, be published on the 
Journals of the General Convention. 

Sec. 2. And further, it is recommended to the several Bishops 
of this Church, and to the several Standing Committees, that, 
during the intervals between the meetings of the General Con- 
vention, they take such means of notifying the admission of 
Ministers among them, as, in their discretion respectively, they 
shall think effectual to the purpose of preventing ignorant and 
unwary people from being imposed on, by persons pretending 
to be authorized Ministers of this Church. 

CANON XLIX. 

Of the Mode of calling Special Meetings of the General Con- 
vention. 

[Former Canons on this subject were the first of 1789, and the forty-second of 

1808.] 

Sec. 1. The right of calling special meetings of the General 
Convention shall be in the Bishops. This right shall be exer- 
cised by the Presiding Bishop, or, in case of his death by the 
Bishop who, according to the rules of the House of Bishops, is 
to preside at the next General Convention; provided that the 
summons shall be with the consent, or on the requisition of a 
majority of the Bishops, expressed to him in such writing. 

Sec. 2. Tiie place of holding any special Convention shall 
be that fixed on by the preceding General Convention for the 
meeting of the next Genera] Convention, unless circumstances 
shall render a meeting at such a place unsafe; in which case the 
Presiding Bishop may appoint some other place. 

Sec. 3. The deputies elected to the preceding General Con- 
vention shall be deputies at such special Convention, unless in 
those cases in which other deputies shall be chosen in the mean- 



54 



CANONS 



time by any of the Diocesan Conventions, and then such other 
deputies shall represent, in the special Convention, the Church 
of the Diocese in which they have been chosen. 

CANON L. 

Of the Mode of transmitting Notice of all Matters submitted 
by the General Convention to the consideration of the Dioce- 
san Conventions. 

[The former Canon on this subject was the forty-fourth of 1808.] 

It shall be the duty of the House of Clerical and Lay Depu- 
ties, whenever any alteration of the Constitution is proposed, 
or any other subject submitted to the consideration of the seve- 
ral Diocesan Conventions, to give a particular notice thereof to 
the Ecclesiastical authority of this Church in every Diocese. 

CANON LI. 

Of the mode of securing an Accurate View of the State of the 
Church from time to time. 

[Repealed by Canon VII. of 1835.*] 

CANON LII. 

Of the Alms and Contributions at the Holy Communion. 

[The former Canon on this subject was the first of 1814.] 

The alms and contributions at the administration of the Holy 
Communion, shall be deposited with the Minister of the parish 
or with such Church officer as shall be appointed by him, to be 
applied by the Minister, or under his superintendence, to such 
pious and charitable uses as shall by him be thought fit. 

CANON LIII. 

Of the Requisites of a Quorum. 

In all cases in which a Canon directs a duty to be performed, 
or a power to be exercised, by a Standing Committee, or by the 
clerical members thereof, or by any other body consisting of 
several members, a majority of the said members, the whole 
having been duly cited to meet, shall be a quorum; and a ma- 
jority of the quorum so convened, shall be competent to act, un- 
less the contrary is expressly required by the Canon. 



* Now Canon XII. of 1853. 



CANONS. 55 

CANON LIV. 
Of Defraying the Expenses of the General Convention. 
[Repealed by Canon VIII. of 1835.*] 

CANON LV. 

Of the Trustees of the General Theological Seminary. 

[Repealed by Canon I. of 1847.] 

CANON LTI. 
Repealing former Canons. 

All former Canons of this Convention not included in these 
Canons, are hereby repealed. 

Done in General Convention, in the City of New York, 
October, 1832. 

By order of the House of Bishops. 

WILLIAM WHITE, D. D., Presiding Bishop. 
Attested, Bird Wilson, D. D., Secretary. 

By order of the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies. 

WILLIAM E. WYATT, D.D., President. 
Attested, Henry Anthon, D. D., Secretary. 

* Now Canon XV. of 1853. 



CANONS 



PASSED IN GENERAL CONVENTION, IN PHILADELPHIA, AUGUST, 1835. 



CANON I. 
Of the Election of Bishops. 

[Repealed by Canon I. 1838.*] 

CANON Hi 
Of Missionary Bishops. 
[Repealed by Canon II. of 1838. t] 

CANON III. 

Of those who have Officiated, without Episcopal Ordination, as 
Ministers among other Denominations of Christions and apply 
for Orders in this Church. 

[Repealed by Canon VII. of 1838.] 

CANON IV. 

Of Ministers removing from one Diocese to another. 

[Repealed by Canon VII. of 18414] 

CANON V. 
Of Amenability and Citations. 

[Former Canons on this subject were the third of 1804, the thirty-first of 1808, 
the fourth of 1829, and the thirty-fifth of 1832.] 

Sec. 1. Every Minister shall be amenable, for offences com- 
mitted by him, to the Bishop, and if there be no Bishop, to the 
clerical members of the Standing Committee of the Diocese in 
which he is canonically resident at the time of the charge. 

* Now Canon II. of 1844. 
t Now Canon VIII. of 1844. 
X Now Canon VII, of 1850. 



CANONS. 



57 



Sec. 2. Unless a State Convention shall otherwise provide, a 
citation to any Minister to appear at a certain time and place for 
the trial of an offence, shall be deemed to be duly served upon 
him, if a copy thereof is left at his last place of abode within the 
United States sixty days before the day of appearance named 
therein; and in case such Minister has departed from the United 
States, by also publishing a copy of such citation in some news- 
paper printed at the seat of Government of the State in which 
the Minister is cited to appear, six months before the said day of 
appearance. 

CANON VI. 

Of the mode of Publishing Authorized Editions of the Books 
of Common Prayer, fyc. 

[Repealed by Canon IX. of 1838.*] 

CANON VII. 

Of the Mode of securing an Accurate View of the State of the 
Church from time to time. 

[Repealed by Canon VIII. of 1841.fJ 

CANON VIII. 
Of Defraying the Expenses of the General Convention. 

[Repealed by Canon X. of 18384] 

Done in General Convention, in the City of Philadelphia } 
August, 1835. 

By Order of the House of Bishops, 

WILLIAM WHITE, D. D., Presiding Bishop. 

Attested, Bird Wilson, D.D., Secretary. 

By Order of the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, 

WILLIAM E, WYATT, D. D., President. 
Attested, Henry Anthon, D.D., Secretary. 

* Now Canon VII. of 1847. 
t Now Canon XII. of 1853. 
\ Now Canon XV. of 1853. 

E 



CANONS 



PASSED IN GENERAL CONVENTION, IN PHILADELPHIA, SEPTEMBER, 1888- 



CANON I. 
Of the Election of Bishops. 
[Repealed by Canon II. of 1844.] 

CANON II. 

Of Missionary Bishops. 
[Repealed by Canon VIII. of 1844.] 

CANON III. 

Of the Performance of Episcopal Duties in Vacant Dioceses. 
[Repealed by Canon IV. of 1847.] 

CANON IV. 
Of Candidates for Orders. 

[Repealed by Canon IX. of 1841.*] 

CANON V. 

Of the Learning of those who are to he ordained. 
[Repealed by Canon VI. of 1853.] 

CANON VI. 

Candidates for Orders ineligible to the General Convention, 

No person who is a Candidate for Holy Orders in this Church 
shall be permitted to accept from any Diocesan Convention an 
appointment as a Lay Deputy to the House of Clerical and Lay 
Deputies of the General Convention. 



* Now Canon VII. of 1853. 



CANONS. 



59 



CANON VII. 

Concerning Candidates for Orders in this Church who have been 

Ministers, Licentiates, or Students of Theology, among other 

Religious Denominations. 
[Former Canons on this subject were the sixth of 1804, the seventeenth of 1808, 

the fourth and fifth of 1820, the first of 1829, the twenty-first and twenty-fourth 

of 1832, and the third of 1835.] 

Sec. 1. All persons seeking admission to the Ministry of this 
Church, are to be regarded as candidates for Holy Orders. 

Sec. 2. When a person who, not having had Episcopal ordi- 
nation, has been acknowledged as an ordained Minister or 
Licentiate among any other denomination of Christians, shall 
desire to be ordained in this Church, he shail give notice thereof 
to the Bishop, or if there be no Bishop, to the Standing Com- 
mittee of the Diocese in which he resides; or if he resides in a 
State or Territory in which there is no organized Diocese, to 
the Missionary Bishop within whose jurisdiction he resides, 
which notice shall be accompanied with a written certificate 
from at least two Presbyters of this Church, stating that from 
personal knowledge of the party, or satisfactory evidence laid 
before them, they believe that his desire to leave the denomina- 
tion to which he has belonged has not arisen from any circum- 
stance unfavorable to his religious or moral character, or on 
account of which it may be inexpedient to admit him to the 
exercise of the Ministry in this Church-, and they may also 
add what they know or believe on good authority, of the cir- 
cumstances leading to the said desire. 

Sec. 3. If the Bishop or Standing Committee shall think 
proper to proceed, the party applying to be received as a candi- 
date, shall produce to the Standing Committee the same testi- 
monials of literary qualifications as are required of all other 
candidates; and also a testimonial from at least twelve members 
of the denomination from which he came, or twelve members 
of the Protestant Episcopal Church, or twelve persons, in part 
of the denomination from which he came, and in part Episco- 
palians, satisfactory to the committee, that the applicant has, 
for three years last past, lived piously, soberly, and honestly ; 
and also a testimonial from at least two Presbyters of this 
Church, that they believe him to be pious, sober, and honest, 
and sincerely attached to the doctrines, discipline, and worship 
of the Church. The Standing Committee being satisfied on 



60 



CANONS. 



these points, may recommend him to the Bishop to be received 
as a candidate for Orders in this Church, or in a vacant Dio- 
cese the Standing Committee may so receive him. 

Sec. 4. Candidates admitted as above may, at the expiration 
of a period not less than six months, be ordained, on their 
passing the same examinations as other candidates for Deacon's 
Orders; and in the examinations, special regard shall be had to 
those points in which the denomination whence they come 
differs from this Church, with a view of testing their informa- 
tion and soundness in the same; and also to the ascertaining 
that they are adequately acquainted with the Liturgy and Offi- 
ces of this Church ; Provided, that in their case the testimo- 
nials shall be required to cover only the time since their admis- 
sion as Candidates for Orders ; and Provided also, that the 
provisions of the Canon concerning Candidates for Orders, as 
far as the same relates to the age of the person to whom the dis- 
pensation may be granted, and the mode and restrictions in and 
under which the same may be granted, shall apply to the per- 
sons mentioned in this Canon. 

Sec. 5. Every candidate for the Ministry of any other de- 
nomination, who applies to be received as a Candidate for 
Orders in this Church, may be allowed by the Bishop, with the 
consent of the members of the Standing Committee, the period 
of time during which he has been a student of Theology, or 
candidate in such other denomination ; Provided, the time so 
allowed does not exceed two years. 

Sec. 6. When any person not a citizen of the United States 
who has been acknowledged, as an ordained Minister among 
any other denomination of Christians, sh di apply for Orders in 
this Church, the Bishop to whom application is made shall 
require of him (in addition to the above qualifications) satisfac- 
tory evidence that he has resided at least one year in the United 
States previous to his application.* 

Sec. 7. Canon III. of 1835 is hereby repealed. 

CANON VIII. 

Of the Organizing of New Dioceses formed out of existing 

Dioceses. 

Sec. 1. Whenever any new Diocese shall be formed within 



* Compare this section with Canon XXIV. of 1832. 



CANONS. 



61 



the limits of any other Diocese, or by the junction of two or 
more Dioceses or parts of Dioceses, and the same shall have 
been ratified by the General Convention, the Bishop of the 
Diocese within the limits of which another is formed, or in case 
of the junction of two or more Dioceses or parts of Dioceses, the 
Bishop of eldest consecration over the Dioceses furnishing por- 
tions of such new Diocese, shall thereupon call the Primary 
Convention of the new Diocese for the purpose of enabling it to 
organize, and shall fix the time and place of holding the same, 
such place being within the territorial limits of the new Diocese. 

Sec. 2. In case there should be no Bishop who can call such 
Primary Convention pursuant to the foregoing provisions, then 
the duty of calling such Convention for the purpose of organi- 
zing, and the duty of fixing the time and place of its meeting, 
shall be vested in the Standing Committee of the eldest of the 
Dioceses, by the junction of which, or parts of which, the new 
Diocese may be formed. And such Standing Committee shall 
make such call immediately after the ratification of a division 
by the General Convention. 

Sec. 3. Whenever one Diocese is about to be divided into 
two Dioceses, the Convention of the said Diocese shall declare 
which portion thereof is to be the new Diocese, and shall make 
the same known to the General Convention before the ratifica- 
tion of such division. 

CANON IX. 

Of the mode of Publishing Authorized Editions of the Book of 
Common Prayer, Sfc. 
[Repealed by Canon VII. of 1847.] 

CANON X. 

Of Defraying the Expenses of General Conventions. 

[Repealed by Canon I. of 1844.* 

CANON XI. 

Of Repealed Canons. 

Sec. 1. Whenever there shall be a repealing clause in any 
Canon, and the said Canon shall be repealed, such repeal shall 



* Now XV. of 1853. 



62 CANONS. 

not be a re-enactment of the Canon or Canons repealed by the 
said repealing clause. 

Sec 2. The provisions of this Canon shall also apply to 
Canons heretofore passed having repealing clauses. 

Done in General Convention, in the City of Philadelphia, 
September, 1838. 

By order of the House of Bishops, 

ALEX. V. GRISWOLD, D. D., Presiding Bishop. 
Attested, Bird Wilson, D. D., Secretary. 

By order of the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, 

WILLIAM D. WYATT, D.D., President. 
Attested, Henry Anthon, D. D. ; Secretary. 



CANONS 



PASSED IN GENERAL CONVENTION IN NEW YORK, OCTOBER, 1841. 



CANON I. 

Of the Treasurer of the Convention. 

At every triennial meeting of the General Convention, a 
Treasurer shall be chosen, who shall remain in office until the 
next stated Convention, and until a successor "be appointed. 
It shall be his duty to receive and disburse all moneys collected 
under the authority of the Convention, and of which the col- 
lection and distribution shall not otherwise be regulated; and to 
invest, from time to time, for the benefit of the "Convention, 
such surplus funds as he may have on hand. His accounts 
shall be rendered triennially to the Convention, and shall be 
examined by a committee acting under its authority. In case 
of a vacancy in the office of Treasurer, it shall be supplied by 
an appointment to be made by the Ecclesiastical authority of 
the Diocese to which he belonged; and the person so appointed 
shall continue to act until an appointment is made by the Con- 
vention. 

CANON II. 

Of a Clergyman absenting himself from his Diocese. 

When a Clergyman has been absent from his Diocese during 
two years, without reasons satisfactory to the Bishop thereof, he 
shall be required by the Bishop to declare in writing the cause, or 
or causes, of his absence; and if he refuse to give his reasons, or if 
these are deemed insufficient by the Bishop, the Bishop may, with 
the advice and consent of the Clerical members of the Standing 
Committee, suspend him from the Ministry; which suspension 
shall continue until he shall give, in writing, sufficient reasons 
for his absence; or until he shall renew his residence in his 



64 



CANONS. 



Diocese; or until he shall renounce the Ministry, according to 
Canon XXXVIII. of 1832. In the case of such suspension, 
as above provided for, it shall be the duty of the Bishop to give 
notice thereof to every Bishop of this Church, and to the Stand- 
ing Committee of every Diocese wherein there is no Bishop. 

CANON III. 

Of the Election of a Missionary Bishop to the Office of Dioce- 
san Bishop. . 

Sec. 1. When a Diocese entitled, agreeably to Section 2 of 
Canon I. of 1838, to the choice of a Bishop, shall elect as its 
Diocesan a Missionary Bishop of this Church; if such election 
have taken place within three months before a meeting of the 
General Convention, evidence thereof shall be laid before each 
House of the General Convention, and the concurrence of each 
House, and its express consent, shall be necessary to the va- 
lidity of said election, and shall complete the same ; so that the 
Bishop thus elected shall be thereafter the Bishop of the Dio- 
cese which has elected him. 

Sec. 2. If the said election have taken place more than three 
months before a meeting of the General Convention, the above 
process may be adopted, or the following instead thereof, viz : 
The Standing Committee of the Diocese electing, shall give 
duly certified evidence of the election to every Bishop of this 
Church, and to the Standing Committee of every Diocese. On 
receiving notice of the concurrence of a majority of the Bish- 
ops, and a majority of the Standing Committees, in the elec- 
tion, and their express consent thereto, the Standing Committee 
of the Diocese concerned, shall transmit notice thereof to every 
Bishop of this Church, and to the Standing Committee of each 
vacant Diocese, which notice shall state what Bishops and what 
Standing Committees have consented to the election. And the 
same Committee shall transmit to every Congregation in the 
Diocese concerned, to be publicly read therein, a notice of the 
election to the Episcopate thereof of the Bishop thus elected ; 
and also cause public notice thereof to be given in such other 
way as they may think proper. 

Sec. 3.* When, agreeably to Section I of Canon 1. of 1838, 

* Canon II. of 1844, has virtually repealed this section. 



CANONS. 



65 



a Diocese requests the General Convention to elect a Bishnp for 
the same, if the House of Bishops should nominate a Missionary- 
Bishop to the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, a vote of the 
said House of Deputies, concurring in the nomination, shall 
complete the election of the "said Missionary Bishop to the Dio- 
cesan charge of the Diocese concerned. 

CANON IV. 
Of the Trial of Bishops. 
[Repealed by Canon III. of 1844.] 

CANON V. 

Of the Preparatory Exercise of a Candidate for Deacon's 

Orders. 

[Repealed by Canon VIII. of 1853-] 

CANON VI. 

Of Clergymen Ordained by Foreign. Bishops in Communion 
with this Church, and desirous of officiating or settling in 
this Church. 

[Repealed by Canon IX. of 1844.] 

CANON VII. 
Of Ministers removing from one Diocese to another. 
[Repealed by Canon V. of 1844.*] 

CANON VIII. 

Of the Mode of Securing an Accurate View of the State of the 
Church from time to time. 

[Repealed by Canon XII. of 1853.] 

CANON IX. 
Of Candidates for Oiders. 
[Repealed by Canon VI. of 1847.f] 



F 



* N m Canon VII. of 1850. 
t Now Canon VII. of 1853. 



66 



CANONS. 



CANON X. 

Of Clergymen Ordained by Bishops not in Communion with 
this Church, and desirous of officiating or settling in this 
Church. 

When a Deacon or Priest, ordained by a Bishop not in com- 
munion with this Church, shall apply to a Bishop for admission 
into the same as a Minister thereof, he shall produce a written 
certificate from at least two Presbyters of this Church, stating 
that from personal knowledge of the party, or satisfactory evi- 
dence laid before them, they believe that his desire to leave the 
communion to which he has belonged, has not arisen from any 
circumstance unfavorable to his religious or moral character, or 
on account of which it may be inexpedient to admit him to the 
exercise of the Ministry in this Church; and shall also, not less 
than six months after his application, in the presence of the 
Bishop and two or more Presbyters, subscribe the declaration 
contained in Article VII. of the Constitution; which being 
done, the Bishop being satisfied of his theological acquire- 
ments, may receive him as such. 

Done in General Convention, in the city of Ne%o York, 
October, 1841. 

By Order of the House of Bishops, 

ALEX. V. GRISWOLD, D.D., Presiding Bishop. 
Attested, Jonathan M. Wainwright, D. D., Secretary. 
By Order of the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies. 

WILLIAM E. WYATT, D.D., President, 
Attested, Wm. Cooper Meade, D. D.. Secretary. 



CANONS 



PASSED IN GENERAL CONVENTION, IN PHILADELPHIA, OCTOBER, 1844. 



CANON I. 
Of the Expenses of General Conventions** 
CANON II. 
Of the Election of Bishops. 

[Former Canons on this subject were the first of 1795, the second of 1808, the 
first of 1817, the second of 1820, the second of 1832, the first of 1835, and the 
first of 1838.] 

Sec. 1. To entitle a Diocese to the choice of a Bishop by the 
Convention thereof, there must be at the time of such choice, 
and have been during the year previous, at least six officiating 
Presbyters therein, regularly settled in a parish or Church, and 
qualified to vote for a Bishop ; and six or more parishes repre- 
sented in the Convention electing. But two or more adjoining 
Dioceses not having respectively the requisite number of Pres- 
byters to entitle either to the choice of a Bishop, may associate 
and proceed to the choice of a Bishop, to exercise jurisdiction 
alike in each of the associated Dioceses, if there be at the time 
of such choice, and have been during the year previous, nine 
or more such Presbyters, residing in any part of such associated 
Dioceses qualified as aforesaid ; and the Bishop so elected shall 
exercise Episcopal jurisdiction over each of the associated Dio- 
ceses, until such time as some one of said Dioceses having six 
or more Presbyters canonically qualified to elect a Bishop, shall 
elect him, and he shall have accepted the office as its own ex- 
clusive Diocesan: whereupon his connection with the other 
associated Diocese, or Dioceses, shall cease and determine ; 
Provided always, that the Diocese thus associating in the elec- 
tion of a common Bishop, and the Conventions thereof, shall 



* Repealed by Canon XV. of 1853. 



6S 



CANONS. 



in all other respects remain as before unconnected and indepen- 
dent of each other ; and. Provided also, that such association 
shall be dissolved on the demise of the Bishop, if not before. 

Sec. 2. A Minister is settled for all purposes here or else- 
where mentioned in these Canons, who has been engaged per- 
manently by any parish, according to the rules of said Diocese, 
or for any term not less than one year. 

Sec 3. Canon I. of 1838 is hereby repealed. 

CANON III. 
Of the Trial of a Bishop. 
[The former Canon on this subject was the fourth of 1841.] 

Sec 1. The trial of a Bishop shall be on a Presentment in 
writing, specifying the offence of which he is alleged to be 
guilty, with reasonable certainty as to time, place, and circum- 
stances. Such Presentment may be made for any Crime or Im- 
morality, for Heresey, for Violation of the Constitution or Canons 
of this Church, or of the Church in the Diocese to which he 
belongs. Said Presentment may be made by the Convention 
of the Diocese to which the accused Bishop belongs, two-thirds 
of each order present concurring: P/ovidcd, that two-thirds of 
the Clergy entitled to seats in said Convention be present: and 
Provided also, that two-thirds of the Parishes canonically in 
union wilh said Convention be represented therein; and the vote 
thereon shall not in any case take place on the same day on 
which the resolution to Present is offered: and it may also be 
made by any three Bishops of this Church. When made by 
the Convention, it shall be signed by a Committee of Prosecu- 
tion consisting of three Clergymen and three Laymen, to be 
appointed for that purpose; and when by three Bishops, it shall 
be signed by them respectively, in their official characters. 

Sec 2. Such Piesentment shall be addressed " To the Bish- 
ops of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States," 
and shall be delivered to the Presiding Bishop, who shall send 
copies thereof without delay to the several Bishops of this Church 
then being within the territory of the United States: Provided, 
that if the Presentment be made by three Bishops, no copies 
shall be sent to them: and Provided further, that if the Presid- 
ing Bishop be the subject of the Presentment, or if he be one 
of the three Bishops presenting, such Presentment shall be de- 



CANONS. 



69 



livered to the Bishop next in seniority, the same not being one 
of the three presenting: whose duty it shall be, in such case, to 
perform all the duties enjoined by this Canon on the Presiding 
Bishop. Upon a Presentment made in either of the modes 
pointed out in Section 1 of this Canon, the course of proceed- 
ing shall be as follows: 

. Sec. 3. The Presiding Bishop shall, without delay, cause a 
copy of the Presentment to be served on the accused, and shall 
give notice, with all convenient speed, to the several Bishops 
then being within the territory of the United States, appointing 
a time and place for their assembling together; and any number 
thereof, being not less than seven, other than the Bishops pre- 
senting, then and there assembled, shall constitute the Court for 
the trial of the accused: he shall also, at the same time, cause at 
least thirty days' notice of the time and place of meeting to be 
given, both to the accused, and to the parties presenting him, 
by a Summoner to be appointed by him ; and shall also call on the 
accused by a written summons to appear and answer. The place 
of trial shall always be within the Diocese in which the accused 
Bishop resides. If the accused Bishop appear, before proceed- 
ing to trial, he shall be called on by the Court to say, whether 
he is guilty or not guilty of the offence or offences charged against 
him; and on his neglect or refusal, the plea of not guilty shall 
be entered for him, and the trial shall proceed: Provided, that, 
for sufficient cause, the Court may adjourn from time to time: 
and Provided also, that the accused shall at all times, during the 
trial, have liberty to be present, to produce his testimony, and 
to make his defence. 

Skc. 4. When the Court proceeds to trial, some officer author- 
ized by law to administer oaths, may, at the desire of either 
party, be requested to administer an oath or affirmation to the 
witnesses, that they will testify the truth, the whole truth, and 
nothing but the truth, concerning the matters charged in the 
Presentment, and the testimony of each witness shall be reduced 
to writing. And in case the testimony of any witness whose 
attendance on the trial cannot be obtained, is desired, it shall be 
lawful for either party, at any time after notice of the Present- 
ment is served on the accused, to apply to the Court, if in ses- 
session, or if not, to any Bishop, who shall thereupon appoint a 
Commissary to take the deposition of such witness. And such 
party, so desiring to take the deposition, shall give to the other 



70 



CANONS. 



party, or some one of them, reasonable notice of the time and 
place of taking the deposition, accompanying such notice with 
the interrogatories to be propounded to the witness; whereupon, 
it shall be lawful for the other party, within six days after such 
notice, to propound cross interrogatories; and such interrogato- 
ries and cross-interrogsitories, if any be propounded, shall be 
sent to the Commissary, who shall thereupon proceed to take 
the testimony of such witness, and transmit it, under seal, to the 
Court. But no deposition shall be read at the trial, unless the 
Court have reasonable assurance that the attendance of the wit- 
ness cannot be procured, or unless both parties shall consent 
that it may be read. 

Sec. 5. The Court having fully heard the allegations and 
testimony of the parties, and deliberately considered the same, 
after the parties have withdrawn, shall declare respectively, 
whether, in their opinion, the accused be guilty or not guilty of 
the charges and specifications contained in the Presentment, in 
the order in which they are set forth; and the declaration of a 
majority of the Court being reduced to writing and signed by 
those who assent thereto, shall be considered as the judgment 
of the said Court, and shall be pronounced in the presence of 
the parties, if they choose to attend. And if it be that the ac- 
cused is guilty, the Court shall, at the same time, pass sentence, 
and award the penalty of Admonition, Suspension, or Deposi- 
tion, as to them the offence or offences proved may seem to de- 
serve: Provided, that if the accused shall, before sentence is 
passed, show satisfactory cause to induce a belief that justice 
has not been done, the Court, or a majority of its members, may, 
according to a sound discretion, grant are-hearing: and in either 
case, before passing sentence, the accused shall have the oppor- 
tunity of being heard, if he have aught to say in excuse or palli- 
ation: Provided, that the accused shall not be held guilty unless 
a majority of the Court shall concur, in regard to one or more 
of the offences charged, and only as relates to those charges in 
which a majority so concur. 

Sec. 6. If the accused Bishop neglect or refuse to appear, ac- 
cording to the summons of the Court, notice having been served 
on him as aforesaid, except for some reasonable cause, to be 
allowed by the said Court, they shall pronounce him to be in 
contumacy; and sentence of Suspension from the Ministry shall 
be pronounced against him for contumacy by the Court; but the 



CANONS. 



71 



said sentence shall be reversed, if, within three calendar months, 
he shall tender himself ready, and accordingly appear, and take 
his trial on the Presentment. But if the accused Bishop shall 
not so tender himself before the expiration of the said three 
months, the sentence of Deposition from the Ministry shall be 
pronounced against him by the Court. And it shall be the duty 
of the Court, whenever sentence has been pronounced, whether 
it be on trial or for contumacy, to communicate such sentence 
to the Ecclesiastical authority of every Diocese of this Church; 
and it shall be the duty of said Ecclesiastical authorities to 
cause such sentence to be publicly read to the congregations of 
each Diocese by the respective Ministers thereof. 

Sec. 7. All notices and papers contemplated in this Canon, 
may be served by a summoner or summoners, to be appointed 
by the Bishop to whom the Presentment is made, or by the 
Court, when the same is in session ; and the certificate of any 
such summoner shall be evidence of the due service of a notice 
or paper. In case of service by any other person, the fact may 
be proved by the affidavit of such person. The delivery of a 
written notice or paper to a party, or the leaving it at his last 
place of residence, shall be deemed a sufficient sendee of such 
notice or paper. 

Sec. 8. The accused party may have the privilege of appear- 
ing by counsel, and in case of the exercise of such privilege;, 
but not otherwise, those presenting shall have the like privilege. 

Sec. 9. If at any time, during the session of any General 
Convention, any Bishop shall make to the House of Bishops a 
written acknowledgment of his unworthiness or criminality in 
any particular, the House of Bishops may proceed., without trial, 
to determine by vote, whether the said offending and confessing 
Bishop shall be admonished, or be suspended from his office, or 
be deposed; and the sentence thus determined by a majority of 
the votes of the House of Bishops, shall be pronounced by the 
Bishop presiding, in the presence of the said House of Bishops, 
and entered on the Journal of the House, and a copy of the said 
sentence, attested by the hand and seal of the Presiding Bishop, 
shall be sent to the said Bishop, and to the Standing Committee 
of his Diocese, and to the Ecclesiastical authority of every Dio- 
cese of this Church; and it shall be the duty of said Ecclesias- 
tical authorities to cause such sentence, unless it be the sentence 



72 



CANONS. 



of admonition, to be publicly read to the Congregations of each 
Diocese, by the respective Ministers thereof. 

Sec. 10. Any Bishop of this Church not having Ecclesias- 
tical jurisdiction, shall be subject to Presentment, trial, and sen- 
tence, as hereinbefore provided, but shall not be included in any 
other provision of this Canon. 

Sec. 11. Canon IV. of 1841 is hereby repealed. 

CANON IV. 
Of Episcopal Resignations. 

[Repealed by Canon II. of 1850.] 

CANON V. 

Of Ministers removing from one Diocese to another. 
[Repealed by Canon VII of 1850.] 

CANON VI. 

Of a Discretion to be allowed in the Calling, Trial, and Exami- 
nation of Deacons in certain cases. 

[Repealed by Canon V. of 1847.] 

CANON VII. 
Of Foreign Missionary Bishops. 

[Repealed by Canon I. of 1850.] 

CANON VIII. 
Of Missionary Bishops within the United States.* 

CANON IX. 

Of Clergymen Ordained in Foreign Countries by Bishops in 
Communion with this Church. 

[Former Canons on this subject were the ninth of 1789, the fifth of 1804, the 
thirty-sixth of 1808, the twenty-third of 1832, and the sixth of 1841.] 

Sec. 1. A clergyman coming from a foreign country and pro- 
fessing to have been ordained out of the United States by a 
foreign Bishop in communion with this Church, or by a Bishop 

* Repealed by Canon X. of 1853. 



CANONSi 



73 



consecrated for a foreign Country by Bishops of this Church, 
under Article X. of the Constitution, or by a Missionary Bishop 
elected to exercise Episcopal functions in any place or places 
out of the United States, shall before he be permitted to officiate 
in any parish or congregation, exhibit to the Minister, or if 
there be no Minister, to the Vestry thereof, a certificate, signed 
by the Bishop of the Diocese, or if there be no Bishop, by the 
Standing Committee, duly convened, that his letters of orders 
are authentic, and given by some Bishop in communion with 
this Church, and whose authority is acknowledged by this 
Church ; and also that he has exhibited to the Bishop or Stand- 
ing Committee satisfactory evidence of his pious and moral 
character, and his theological acquirements; and, in any case, 
before he shall be permitted to settle in any church or parish, or 
be received into union with any Diocese of this Church, as a 
Minister thereof, he shall produce to the Bishop, or if there be 
no Bishop, the Standing Committee of such Diocese, a letter 
of dismission, from under the hand and seal of the Bishop with 
whose Diocese he has been last connected; which letter shall 
be, in substance, that provided for in Section I of Canon V. of 
1844, and shall be delivered within six months from the date 
thereof ; and when such clergyman shall have been so received, 
he shall be considered as having passed entirely from the juris- 
diction of the Bishop from whom the letter of dismission was 
brought, to the full jurisdiction of the Bishop or other Ecclesi- 
astical authority by whom it shall have been accepted, and 
become thereby subject to all the Canonical provisions of this 
Church ; Provided, that no such clergyman shall be so received 
into union with any Diocese until he shall have subscribed in 
the presence of the Bishop of the Diocese in which he applies 
for reception, and of two or more Presbyters, the declaration 
contained in Article VII. of the Constitution; which being 
done, said Bishop or Standing Committee, being satisfied of 
his theological acquirements, may receive him into union with 
this Church as a Minister of the same ; Provided also, that such 
Minister shall not be entitled to settle in any parish or Churchy 
as canonically in charge of the same, until he have resided one' 
year in the United States subsequent to the acceptance of his 
letter of dismission. 

Sec. 2. And if such foreign clergyman be a Deacon, he shall 

G 



74 CANONS. 

reside in this country at least three years, and obtain in this 
country the requisite testimonials of character, before he be 
ordained a Priest. 

Sec. 3. Canon VI. of 1841 is hereby repealed. 

Done in General Convention, in the City of Philadelphia, 
October, 1844. 

By order of the House of Bishops. 

PHILANDER CHASE, D. D., Presiding Bishop. 

Attested, Jonathan M. Wainwright, D. D., Secretary. 

By order of the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies. 

WILLIAM E. WYATT, D.D., President. 

Attested, Wm. Cooper Meade, D. D., Secretary. 



CANONS 



PASSED IN GENERAL CONVENTION, IN NEW YORK, OCTOBER, 1847. 



CANON L 

Of the Trustees of the General Theological Seminary. 

[The former Canon on this subject was the fifty-fifth of 1832.] 

Sec. 1. It shall be the duty of the Secretary of the Conven- 
tion of every Diocese, to forward to the House of Clerical and 
Lay Deputies, at every General Convention, a certificate of the 
nomination by the Diocese, of a Trustee or Trustees for the 
General Theological Seminary, and without such certificate the 
nomination shall not be confirmed. 

Sec. 2. Canon LV. of 1832 is hereby repealed. 

CANON II. 

Of the Remission or Modification of Judicial Sentences. 

The Bishops of this Church who are entitled to seats in the 
House of Bishops, may altogether remit and terminate any Ju- 
dicial Sentence which may have been imposed, or may here- 
after be imposed, by Bishops acting collectively as a Judicial 
Tribunal, or modify the same so far as to designate a precise 
period of time or other specific contingency, on the occurrence 
of which, such sentence shall utterly cease and be of no fur- 
ther force or effect: Provided, that no such remission or modi- 
fication shall be made, except at a meeting of the House of 
Bishops during the session of some General Convention, or at a 
Special Meeting of the said Bishops, which shall be convened 
by the Presiding Bishop on the application of any five Bishops, 
three months notice in writing of the time, place and object of 
the meeting being given personally to each Bishop, or left at his 
usual place of abode: Provided also, that such remission or 
modification be assented to by a number of said Bishops, not 



76 



CANONS . 



less than a majority of the whole number entitled at the time to 
seats in the House of Bishops: atid Provided further , that no- 
thing in this Canon shall be understood to repeal or alter the 
provisions of Canon XXXIX. of 1832. 

CANON III. 

Of the Penalty of Suspension. 

Whenever the penalty of Suspension shall be inflicted on a 
Bishop, Priest or Deacon, in this Church, the sentence shall 
specify on what terms, or at what time, said penalty shall cease. 

CANON IV. 

Of the Performance of Episcopal Duties in Vacant Dioceses, 
or in a Diocese, the Bishop of which is under disability. 

[Former Canons on this subject were the first of 1795, the twentieth of 1808, the 
seventh of 1832, and the third of 1838.] 

Sec, 1. Any Bishop, Assistant Bishop, or Missionary Bishop, 
may, on the invitation of the Convention, or the Standing Com- 
mittee of any Diocese, where there is no Bishop, or where the 
Bishop is, for the time, under a disability to perform Episcopal 
offices, by reason of a judicial sentence, visit and perform Epis- 
copal offices in that Diocese, or in any part thereof, and this in- 
vitation may be temporary, and it may at any time be revoked. 

Sec 2. A Diocese without a Bishop, or of which the Bishop 
is for the time, under a disability, by reason of a Judicial Sen- 
tence, may, by its Convention, be placed under the full Epis- 
copal charge and authority of the Bishop of another Diocese, or 
of a Missionary Bishop who shall by that act be authorized to 
perform all the duties and offices of the Bishop of the Diocese so 
vacant, or having the Bishop disabled, until, in the case of a 
vaeant Diocese, a Bishop is duly elected and consecrated for the 
same, and in the case of a Diocese, whose Bishop is disqualified 
as aforesaid, until the disqualification be removed, or until, in 
either case, the said act of the Convention be revoked. 

Sec. 3. No Diocese thus placed under the full charge and 
authority of the Bishop of another Diocese, or of a Missionary 
Bishop, shall invite a second Bishop to perform any Episcopal 
duty, or exercise authority, till its connection with the first 
Bishop has expired or is revoked. 

Sec. 4. Canon III. of 1838 is hereby repealed. 



CANONS . 



77 



CANON V. 

Of a discretion to be allowed in the Calling, Trial, and Exami- 
nation of Deacons in certain cases. 
[Repealed by Canon V. of 1853.] 

CANON VI. 
Of Candidates for Orders. 
[Repealed by Canon VII. of 1853 ] 

CANON VII. 

Of the mode of Publishing Authorized Editions of the Book of 
Common Prayer, Sfc. 

[Former Canons on this subject were the third of 1801, the forty-third nf 1808, 
the Canon of 1821, the forty-sixth of 1832, the sixth of 1835, and the ninth of 
1838.] 

Sec. 1. The Bishop of this Church in any Diocese, or, where 
there is no Bishop, the Standing Committee thereof, shall 
appoint one or more Presbyters of the Diocese, who shall com- 
pare and correct all new editions of the common Prayer Book, 
the Articles, Offices, Metre Psalms, and Hymns, by some stand- 
ard book ; and a certificate of said editions having been so com- 
pared and corrected, shall be published with the same. And 
in case any edition shall be published without such correction, 
it shall be the duty of the Bishop, or, where there is no Bishop, 
of the Standing Committee, to give public notice that such edi- 
tion is not authorized by the Church. 

Sec. 2. The octavo edition of the Book of Common Prayer, 
the Articles, Offices, Metre Psalms, and Hymns, set forth by the 
General Convention of 1844, and published by the New York 
Bible and common Prayer Book Society, and by Harper & 
Brothers in 1845, is hereby declared to be the standard edition. 

Sec. 3. Canon IX. of 1838 is hereby repealed. 

Done in General Convention, in the City of New York, 
October, 1848. 
By order of the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, 

PHILANDER CHASE, D. D., Presiding Bishop. 
Attested, Jonathan M. Wainwright, D.D., Secretary. 

By order of the House of Bishops, 

WILLIAM E. WYATT, D.D., President. 
Attested, Wm. Cooper Meade, D. D., Secretary. 



CANONS 



PASSED IN GENERAL CONVENTION, IN CINCINNATI, OCTOBER, 1850. 



CANON L 
Of Foreign Missionary Bishops. 
[The former Canon on this subject was the seventh of 1844.] 

Sec. 1. The House of Clerical and Lay Deputies may, from 
time to time, on nomination by the House of Bishops, elect a 
suitable person or persons to be a Bishop or Bishops of this 
Church, to exercise Episcopal functions in any missionary sta- 
tion or stations of this Church out of the territory of the United 
States, which the House of Bishops, with the concurrence of 
the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, may have designated. 
The evidence of such election shall be a certificate, to be sub- 
scribed by a constitutional majority of said House of Clerical 
and Lay Deputies, expressing their assent to the said nomina- 
tion, which certificate shall be produced to the House of Bishops; 
and if the House of Bishops shall consent to the consecration, 
they may take order for that purpose. 

Sec. 2. Any Bishop elected and consecrated under this 
Canon, or any Foreign Missionary Bishop heretofore conse- 
crated to exercise Episcopal functions in any place or country 
which may have been thus designated, shall have no jurisdic- 
tion except in the place or country for which he has been 
elected and consecrated. He shall not be entitled to a seat in 
the House of Bishops, nor shall he become a Diocesan Bishop 
in any organized Diocese within the United States, unless with 
the consent of three-fourths of all the Bishops entitled to seats 
in the House of Bishops, and also of three-fourths of the Cleri- 
cal and Lay Deputies present at the session of the General Con- 
vention ; or, in the recess of the General Convention, with the 
consent of the Standing Committees of three-fourths of the 
Dioceses. 



CANONS. 



79 



Sec. 3. Any Bishop or Bishops consecrated under this Ca- 
non, or any Foreign Missionary Bishop heretofore consecrated, 
shall, on presentment by two-thirds of the Missionaries under 
his charge, for immorality, or heresy, or for a violation of the 
Constitution or Canons of this Church, be tried, and if found 
guilty, sentenced in all particulars as if he were actually resi- 
dent within the limits of the United States, except that the trial 
may be within any Diocese in the United States. 

Sec. 4. Any Bishop or Bishops elected and consecrated un- 
der this Canon, or any Foreign Missionary Bishop heretofore 
consecrated, may ordain as Deacons or Presbyters, to officiate 
within the limits of their respective missions, any persons of the 
age required by the Canons of this Church, who shall exhibit 
to him or them the testimonials required by Section 2 of Canon 
IX. of 1841, signed by not less than two of the ordained Mis- 
sionaries of this Church who may be subject to his or their 
charge. Provided, nevertheless, that if there be only one or- 
dained Missionary attached to the Mission, and capable of acting 
at the time, the signature of a Presbyter under the jurisdiction 
of any Bishop in communion with this Church, in good stand- 
ing, may be admitted to supply the deficiency. 

Sec. 5. Any Foreign Missionary Bishop consecrated under 
this Canon, or heretofore consecrated, may, by and with the 
advice of two Presbyters, one of whom, if necessity require, 
be a Presbyter in good standing under the jurisdiction of any 
Bishop in communion with this Church, dispense with those 
studies required from a candidate for Deacon's order by the Ca- 
non of this Church ; Provided, no person shall be ordained by 
him who has not passed a satisfactory examination, in the pre- 
sence of two Presbyters, as to his theological learning and aptitude 
to teach. And provided further, that no person shall be ordained 
by him until he shall have been a candidate for at least three 
years. Nor shall any Deacon so ordained be advanced to the 
order of Presbyters, who has not been in Deacon's Orders for 
at least one year. Nor shall any Deacon or Priest, who shall 
have been ordained under this Canon, be allowed to hold any 
cure, or officiate in the Church in these United States, until he 
shall have complied with existing Canons, relating to the learn- 
ing of persons to be ordained. 

Sec. 6. Any Foreign Missionary Bishop or Bishops elected, 



80 



CANONS. 



and consecrated under this Canon, or any Foreign Missionary- 
Bishop heretofore consecrated, shall have jurisdiction and gov- 
ernment, according to the Canons of this Church, over all Mis- 
sionaries or clergymen of this Church resident in the district or 
country for which he or they may have been consecrated, 

Sec. 7. Every Bishop elected and consecrated under this 
Canon, or Foreign Missionary Bishop heretofore consecrated, 
shall report to each General Convention his proceedings and 
acts, and the state of the Mission under his supervision. He 
shall also make a similar report at least once every year, to 
the Board of Missions of this Church 

Sec. 8. Canon VII. of 1844 is hereby repealed. 

CANON II. 
Of Episcopal Resignations. 

[Former Canons on this subject were the thirty-second of 1835, and the fourth 

of 1844.] 

Sec. 1. If, during the session of the General Convention, or 
within six calendar months before the meeting of any such 
Convention, a Bishop shall desire to resign his jurisdiction, he 
shall make known in writing to the House of Bishops such his 
desire, together with the reasons moving him thereto ; where- 
upon the House of Bishops may investigate the whole case of 
the proposed resignation, including not only the facts and rea- 
sons that may be set forth in the application for the proposed 
resignation, but any other facts and circumstances bearing upon 
it, so that the whole subject of the propriety or necessity of such 
resignation, may be placed fully before the House ofjBishops. 

Seo. 2. An investigation having thus been made, the House 
of Bishops may decide on the application; and by the vote of a 
majority of those present, accept or refuse to accept such resig- 
nation; and in all cases of a proposed resignation, the Bishops 
shall cause their proceedings to be recorded on their Journal; 
and, in case of acceptance, the resignation shall be complete 
when thus recorded, and notice thereof shall be given to the 
House of Clerical and Lay Deputies. 

Sec. 3. In case a Bishop should desire to resign at any 
period not within six calendar months before the meeting of a 
General Convention, he shall make known to the Presiding 
Bishop such his desire, with the reasons moving him thereto; 



CANONS. 81 

whereupon the Presiding Bishop shall communicate, without 
delay, a copy of the same to every Bishop of this Church, 
having Ecclesiastical jurisdiction; and also to the Standing 
Committee of the Diocese to which the Bishop desiring to re- 
sign may belong, and at the same time summon said Bishops 
to meet him in person, at a place to be by him designated, and 
at a time not less than three calendar months from the date of 
his summons; and should a number, not less than a majority of 
all the said Bishops, meet at the time and place designated, they 
shall then have all the powers given by the previous sections of 
this Canon to the House of Bishops; and should a number less 
than a majority assemble, they shall have power to adjourn from 
time to time, until they can secure the attendance of a majority 
of all the said Bishops. Should a proposed resignation of a 
Bishop be accepted at any meeting of the Bishops for that pur- 
pose held during a recess, then it shall be the duty of the senior 
Bishop present to pronounce such resignation complete, and to 
communicate the same to the Ecclesiastical authority of each 
Diocese, who shall cause the same to be communicated to the 
several clergymen in charge of congregations therein. And it 
shall be the further duty of the Presiding Bishop to cause such 
resignation to be formally recorded on the Journal of the House 
of Bishops that may meet in General Convention next there- 
after. If the Bishop desirous of resigning should be the Pre- 
siding Bishop, then all the duties directed in this Canon to be 
performed by the Presiding Bishop, shall devolve upon the 
Bishop next in seniority. 

Sec. 4. No Bishop whose resignation of the Episcopal juris- 
diction of a Diocese has been consummated pursuant to this 
Canon, shall, under any circumstances, be eligible to any Dio- 
cese now in union, or which may hereafter be admitted into 
union with this Church; nor shall he have a seat in the House 
of Bishops; but he may perform Episcopal acts at the request of 
any Bishop of this Church having Ecclesiastical jurisdiction 
within the limits of his Diocese. 

Sec. 5. A Bishop who ceases to have the Episcopal charge 
of a Diocese shall still be subject in all matters to the Canons 
and authority of the General Convention. 

Sec. 6. In case a suspended Bishop of this Church should 
desire to ierign at any period not within six calendar months 

H 



82 



CANONS. 



before the meeting of a General Convention, he shall make 
known by letter to the Presiding Bishop, such desire, where- 
upon the Presiding Bishop shall communicate a copy of the 
same to each Bishop of this Church having jurisdiction, and in 
case a majority of such Bishops shall return to the Presiding 
Bishop their written assent to such resignation, the same shall 
be deemed valid and final, and written information of the said 
resignation shall at once be communicated by the Presiding 
Bishop to the Bishop and Diocese concerned, and to each 
Bishop of this Church. 

Sec, 7. Canon IV. of 1844 is hereby repealed. 

CANON III. 

Of the Election of a Provisional Bishop in the case of a Diocese 
whose Bishop is suspended without a precise limitation of time. 

A Diocese deprived of the services of its Bishop by a sentence 
of suspension without a precise limitation of time, may proceed 
to the election of a Provisional Bishop, who, when duly conse- 
crated, shall exercise all the powers, and authority of the Bishop 
of the Diocese during the suspension of such Bishop, and who 
in case of the remission of the sentence of the Bishop, and his 
restoration to the exercise of his jurisdiction, shall perform the 
Duties of Assistant Bishop prescribed by Canon VI. of 1832, 
and who in all cases shall succeed to the Bishop, on his death 
or resignation. 

CANON IV. 

Of Episcopal Visitations. 

[Former Canons on this subject were the third of 1789, the first of 1795, the 
fourth of 1801, the twentieth of 1808, and the twenty-fifth of 1832.] 

Sec. 1. Every Bishop in this Church shall visit the Churches 
within his Diocese, for the purpose of examining the state of his 
Church , inspecting the behavior of his Clergy, ministering the 
Word, and, if he think fit, the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper 
to the people committed to his charge, and administering the 
Apostolic Rite of Confirmation. And it is deemed proper that 
such visitation be made once in three years, at least, by every 
Bishop to every Church within his Diocese, which shall make 
provision for defraying the necessary expenses of the Bishop at 



CANONS. 



83 



such visitation. And it is hereby declared to be the duty of the 
Minister and Vestry of every Church or Congregation, to make 
such provision accordingly. 

Sec. 2. But it is to be understood that to enable the Bishop 
to make the aforesaid visitation, it shall be the duty of the Clergy 
in such reasonable rotation as may be devised, to officiate for 
him in any parochial duties which may belong to him. 

Sec. 3. It shall be the duty of the Bishop to keep a register 
of his proceedings at every visitation of his Diocese. 

Sec. 4. Canon XXV. of 1832 is hereby repealed. 

CANON V. 

Of a Minister declaring that he will no longer be a Minister of 

this Church 

[Former Canons on this subject were the second of 1817, the seventh of 1820, 
the third of 1829, and the thirty-eighth of 1832.] 

Sec. 1. If any Minister of this Church, against whom there 
is no ecclesiastical proceeding instituted, shall declare in writing 
to the Bishop of the Diocese to which he belongs, or to any Ec- 
clesiastical authority for the trial of a Clergyman, or where there 
is no Bishop to the Standing Committee, his renunciation of the 
Ministry, and his design not to officiate in future in any of the 
Offices thereof, it shall be the duty of the Bishop, or where is no 
Bishop, of the Standing Committee, to record the declaration so 
made; and it shall be the duty of the Bishop to depose him from 
the Ministry, and to pronounce and record, in the presence of 
two or more Clergymen, that the person so declaring has been 
deposed from the Ministry of this Church. In any Diocese in 
which there is no Bishop, the same sentence may be pronounced 
by the Bishop of any other Diocese, invited by the Standing 
Committee to attend for that purpose. Provided always, never- 
theless, that if the Bishop to whom such declaration renouncing 
the Ministry is made, have reason to believe that the party has 
acted unadvisedly and hastily, he may forbear all action thereupon 
for the space of not more than six months, during which time 
the party may withdraw his application. And provided further, 
that if the Bishop shall have ground to suppose the party to be 
liable to presentment for any canonical offence, in his discretion 
he may, and with the consent of the Standing Committee, pro- 
ceed to have the applicant put upon his trial, notwithstanding 

H 2 



84 



CANONS 



his having made the aforesaid declaration. And the same dis 
cretion is allowed to the Standing Committee, in case the Dio- 
cese should be without a Bishop. 

In the case of deposition from the Ministry, as above provided 
for, it shall be the duty of the Bishop to give notice thereof to 
every Bishop of this Church, and to the Standing Committee 
of every Diocese wherein there is no Bishop. 

Sec. 2. Canon XXXVIII. of 1832 is hereby repealed. 

CANON VI. 

Of a Clergyman in any Diocese or Missionary District charge- 
able with Midemeanor in any other. 

[Former Canons on this subject were the second of 1792, the twenty-eighth of 
1808, and the fortieth of 1832.] 

Sec. 1. If a Clergyman of this Church, belonging to any 
Diocese or Missionary District, conduct himself in such a way 
as is contrary to the rules of this Church, and disgraceful to his 
Office, the Ecclesiastical authority thereof shall give notice of 
the same to the Ecclesiastical authority where he is canonically 
resident, exhibiting with the information given reasonable ground 
for presuming its correctness. If the Ecclesiastical authority 
when thus notified shall omit for the space of three months to 
proceed against the ofTending Clergyman, it shall be in the power 
of the Ecclesiastical authority of the Diocese or Missionary Dis- 
trict, within which the alleged offence or offences were com- 
mited, to institute proceedings, and the decision given shall be 
conclusive. 

Sec. 2. If a Clergyman shall come temporarily into any Dio- 
cese under the imputation of having elsewhere been guilty of 
any crime or misdemeanor, by violation of the Canons, or other- 
wise; or if any Clergyman while sojourning in any Diocese 
shall misbehave in any of these respects, the Bishop, upon pro- 
bable cause, may admonish such Clergyman, and forbid him to 
officiate in said Diocese. And if, after such prohibition, the said 
Clergyman so officiate, the Bishop shall give notice to all the 
Clergy and Congregations in said Diocese, that the officiating 
of the said Clergyman is under any and all circumstances, pro- 
hibited, and like notice shall be given to the Bishop, or if there 



CANONS . 



85 



be no Bishop to the Standing Committee, of the Diocese to 
which the said Clergyman belongs. And such prohibition shall 
continue in force until the Bishop of the first named Diocese be 
satisfied of the innocence of the said Clergyman, or until he be 
acquitted on trial. 

Sec. 3. The provisions of the second section shall apply to 
Clergymen ordained in foreign countries by Bishops in Com- 
munion with this Church : Provided, that in such case, notice 
of the prohibition shall be given to the Bishop under whose 
jurisdiction the Clergyman shall appear to have been last, and 
also to all the Bishops exercising jurisdiction in this Church. 

Sec. 4. Canon XL. of 1832 is hereby repealed. 

CANON VII. 
Of Clerical Residence and Removal. 

Sec. 1. Clergymen of this Church removing within the ju- 
risdiction of any Bishop or other Ecclesiastical authority, shall, 
in order to gain full Canonical residence in the same, present to 
said Ecclesiastical authority a Testimonial from the Ecclesiasti- 
cal authority of the Diocese or Missionary district in which they 
last resided, which Testimonial shall be to the following effect, 
riz: 

"I hereby certify that A. B., who has signified to me his de- 
sire to be transferred to the Ecclesiastical authority of , is 

a Presbyter (or Deacon) of , in regular standing, and has 

not, so far as I know or believe, been justly liable to evil report 
for error in religion or viciousness of life for three years last 
past." 

And if the Clergyman remove to another Diocese, and has 
been called to take charge of a Parish or Congregation within 
such Diocese, and present the Testimonial aforesaid, it shall be 
the duty of the Ecclesiastical authority of the Diocese to which 
he has removed to accept it, unless the Bishop or Standing 
Committee should have heard rumors, that he or they believe 
to be well founded, against the character of the Clergyman con- 
cerned, which would form a proper ground of Canonical in- 
quiry and presentment, in which case the Ecclesiastical autho- 
rity shall communicate the same to the Bishop or Standing Com- 



86 



CANONS. 



mittee of the Diocese to whose jurisdiction the said Clergyman 
belongs; and in such case it shall not be the duty of the Eccle- 
siastical authority to accept the testimonial unless and until the 
Clergyman shall be exculpated from the said charges. 

Sec. 2. In case anything shall have occurred to render the 
language of this Testimonial inapplicable to the Clergyman 
who proposes to remove, the Ecclesiastical authority shall give 
such a statement of facts as shall set forth his true standing and 
character. 

Sec. 3. This letter shall not affect a Clergyman's Canonical 
residence, until, after having been presented according to its ad- 
dress, it shall have been accepted, and notification of such ac- 
ceptance given to the authority whence it proceeded. The resi- 
dence of the Clergyman so transferred, shall date from the ac- 
ceptance of his letter of transfer. If not presented within three 
months after its date, it may be considered as void, by the au- 
thority whence it proceeded: and shall be so considered, unless 
it be presented within six months. 

Sec. 4. No Clergyman removing from one Diocese or Mis- 
sionary district to another, officiate as the Rector, stated Min- 
ister, or Assistant Minister of any Parish or Congregation of 
the Diocese or district to which he removes, until he shall 
have presented to the Ecclesiastical authority of the same, a 
Testimonial as above described, and shall have obtained from 
said Ecclesiastical authority a certificate in the words following: 

" I hereby certify, that the Rev. A. B. has been canonically 
transferred to my jurisdiction, and is a Clergyman in regular 
standing." 

Sec. 5. It shall be the duty of all Clergyman, except Profes- 
sors in the General Theological Seminary, Officers of the Board 
of Missions, and Chaplains in the Army and Navy, to obtain 
and present letters of transfer, as above described, whenever 
they remove from one Diocese or Missionary district to another, 
and remain therein for the space of six months. 

Sec. 6. No Clergyman shall officiate transiently in a vacant 
Parish, or in one the Rector or Minister of which is sick or ab- 
sent, unless the Wardens or Vestry are satisfied he is at the 
time a Clergyman in good and regular standing. When from 
another Diocese, letters commendatory from the Ecclesiastical 
authority thereof may be required. 



CANONS. 87 

Sec. 7. Canon V. of 1844 is hereby repealed. 

Done in General Convention in the City of Cincinnati, 
October, 1850. 

By Order of the House of Bishops, 

PHILANDER CHASE, D. D., Presiding Bishop. 

Attested, Jonathan M. Wainwright, D. D., Secretary. 

By Order of the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies. 

WILLIAM E. WYATT, D. D., President. 

Attested, M. A. DeWolfe Howe, D. D., Secretary. 



CANONS 



PASSED IN GENERAL CONVENTION IN NEW YORK, OCTOBER, 1853. 



CANON I. 

Of the Abandonment of the Communion of the Church by any 
Bishop, Priest, or Deacon. 

In all cases where a Bishop, Presbyter, or Deacon of this 
Church, without availing himself of the provisions of Canons 
II. and V. of 1850, has abandoned her Communion or shall 
hereafter abandon it, either by an open renunciation of the doc- 
trines, Discipline and Worship of this Church, or by a formal 
admission into any religious body not in Communion with the 
same: such Bishop, Presbyter, or Deacon shall be held, ipso 
facto, as deposed to all intents and purposes; and shall there- 
upon be pronounced deposed; if a Presbyter or Deacon, by 
the Bishop having jurisdiction, with the consent of the Stand- 
ing Committee; and if a Bishop, by the Presiding Bishop, with 
the consent of the majority of the members of the House of 
Bishops. And notice of such deposition shall be given as in 
like cases. 

CANON II. 

Of the Abandonment of the Communion of the Church by a 
Presbyter or Deacon. 

In any proceedings against a Presbyter or Deacon under 
Canon I. of 1853 by his Bishop, whenever the abandonment 
charged shall not be evidenced by writing signed by the party, 
he shall have three months' notice, to be given in such manner 
as may be prescribed by the Bishop, that his deposition will be 
pronounced unless cause be shown to the contrary. 

CANON III. 

Of Bishops Absent from their Dioceses because of Sickness, or 
other sufficient reason. 

It shall be lawful for any Bishop of a Diocese, who is about 
to leave, or has left his Diocese, with the intention of going out 



CANONS. 



89 



of the limits of the United States, or of remaining out of his 
Diocese for the space of three calendar months, although with- 
out leaving the United States, to authorize by writing under his 
hand and seal, the Assistant Bishop, or should there be none, 
the Standing Committee of such Diocese, to act as the Ecclesi- 
astical authority thereof. The assistant Bishop or Standing 
•Committee so authorized, shall thereupon become the Ecclesi- 
astical authority of such Diocese, to all intents and purposes 
until such writing shall be revoked or the Bishop shall return 
within the Diocese: Provided, that nothing in this canon shall 
be so construed, as to prevent any Bishop who may have signed 
such writing from exercising his jurisdiction, himself, so far as 
the same may be practicable, during his absence from his Dio- 
cese, or from permitting and authorising any other Bishop to 
perform Episcopal Offices for him. 

CANON IV 
Of a Registrar of the General Convention. 

Sec. 1. The journals, files, papers, reports and other docu- 
ments, which, under the canon " Of securing an Accurate 
View of the State of the Church," or in any other manner, 
shall become the property of either House of the General Con- 
vention of this Church, shall be committed to the keeping of a 
presbyter, to be elected by the House of Clerical and Lay De- 
puties upon nomination by the House of Bishops, who shall be 
known as the Registrar of the General Convention. 

Sec. 2. It shall be the duty of the said Registrar to procure 
all such journals, files, papers, reports and other documents now 
in existence; to arrange, label, file, index and otherwise put in 
order and provide for the safe keeping of the same, and of all 
such others as may hereafter come into his possession, in fire- 
proof box or boxes, in some safe and accessible place of depo- 
sit; and to hold the same under such regulations and restric- 
tions as the General Convention may from time to time provide. 
^ Skv 3. It shall be the duty of the said Registrar to procure a 
propej-^id sufficient book of record, and to enter therein a re- 
coHj'-'of the Consecrations of all the Bishops of this Church, 
designating accurately the time and place of the same, with the 
names of the consecrating Bishops and of others present and 
assisting; to have the same authenticated in the fullest manner 



90 



CANONS . 



now practicable; and to take care for the similar record and au- 
thentication of all future Consecrations in this Church. 

Sue. 4. The expenses necessary for the purposes contemplated 
by this Canon, shall ba provided for by vote of the General Con- 
vention, and defrayed by the Treasurer of the same. 

CANON V. 
Of the Ordination of Deacons. 

[Former Canons on this subject were the sixth of 1844, and the fifth of 1847.] 

Sec. L. Every person hereafter to be ordained Deacon in this 
Church, shall be examined by the Bishop and two Presbyters, 
whose duty it shall be to ascertain that he is well acquainted 
with the Holy Scriptures and the Book of Common Prayer; 
and who shall inquire into his fitness for the ministrations de- 
clared in the Ordinal to appertain to the office of a Deacon, and 
be satisfied thereof. 

Sec. 2. No person shall be entitled to such examination, 
until he shall have presented to the Bishop the certificate from 
the Standing Committee, required by Section 2 of the Canon 
"Of Candidates for Orders;" shall have remained a Candidate 
for Orders at least one year from the date of such certificate; 
and shall have presented to the Bishop a testimonial from at 
least one Rector of a Parish, also of the Wardens and Vestry, 
men of the Parish to which he belongs, signifying a belief that 
he is well qualified to minister in the office of a Deacon, to the 
glory of God and the edification of the Church. 

Sec. 3. No Deacon shall be settled over a Parish or Congre- 
gation, until he shall have satisfactorily passed the three exami- 
nations prescribed in the Canon "Of the Preparatory Exercises 
of a Candidate for Priest's Orders;" he shall not officiate in any 
Parish or Congregation, without the express consent of the 
Rector for the time being, where there is a Rector; nor, in any 
case, without the assent of the Bishop; and when officiating in 
the. Parish or Congregation of a Rector, he shall be entirely 
subject to the direction of such Rector in all his ministrations. 

Sec. 4. No Deacon who shall not have passed the examina- 
tion prescribed in the Canon "Of the Preparatory Exercises of 
a Candidate for Priest's Orders," shall be transferred to another 
Diocese, without the written request of the Bishop to whose 
jurisdiction he is to be transferred. 

* 



CANONS. 



91 



Sec. 5. Canon V. of 1847 is hereby repealed. 

CANON VI. 

Of the Learning of those who arc to be Ordained Priests. 

[Former Canons on this subject were the seventh of 1789, altered in 1792, the 
fourth of 1795, the fourth of 1799, the second of 1801, the ninth of 1888, the 
• thirteenth of 1832, and the fifth of 1838.] 

Sec. 1. No person shall be ordained Priest in this Church 
until he shall have satisfied the Bishop and Presbyters, by 
whom he shall be examined, that he is well acquainted with the 
Holy Scriptures ; can read the Old Testament in the Hebrew 
language, and the New Testament in the original Greek; is 
adequately acquainted with the Latin tongue; and that he hath 
a competent knowledge of Natural and Moral Philosophy, and 
Church History, and hath paid attention to Composition and 
Pulpit Eloquence, as a means of giving additional efficiency to 
his labors; unless the Bishop, with the consent of the Standing 
Committee of his Diocese, has dispensed with the knowledge 
of the Latin and Greek languages, and other branches of know- 
ledge not strictly ecclesiastical, in consideration of such other 
qualifications for the gospel ministry as are set forth in Section 
4 of the Canon " Of Candidates for Orders." The dispensa- 
tion with the knowledge of the Hebrew language to be regarded 
as in that Canon . 

Sec. 2. Canon V. of 1838 is hereby repealed. 

CANON VII. 
Of Candidates for Orders. 

[Former Canons on this subject were the sixth of 1795, the seventh of 1804, the 
seventh of 1808, the eighth of 1820, the first of 1823, the Canon of 1826, the 
ninth of 1832, the fourth of 1838, the ninth of 1841, and the sixth of 1847.] 

Sec 1. Every person who desires to become a Candidate for 
Orders in this Church, shall, in the first instance, give notice of 
his intention to the Bishop of the Diocese in which he intends 
to apply, or, if there be no Bishop, to the Standing Committee; 
in which notice he shall declare whether he has ever applied 
for admission as a Candidate in any other Diocese. No person 
who has previously applied for admission as a Candidate in any 
Diocese, and has been refused admission, or having been ad- 
mitted has afterwards ceased to be a candidate, shall be admit- 



92 



CANONS 



ted as a candidate in any other Diocese, until he shall have 
produced from the Bishop, or, if there be no Bishop, from the 
Standing Committee of the former Diocese, a certificate de- 
claring the cause for which he was refused admission, or for 
which he ceased to be a candidate. 

Sec. 2. No person shall be considered as a Candidate for 
Orders in this Church, unless he shall have produced to the 
Bishop, to whom he intends to apply for orders, a certificate 
from the Standing Committee of the Diocese of the said Bishop, 
that, from personal knowledge or from testimonials laid before 
them, they believe that he is pious, sober, and honest; that he 
is attached to the doctrines, discipline, and worship of the Pro- 
testant Episcopal Church, a communicant of the same, and, in 
their opinion , possesses such qualifications as will render him 
apt and meet to exercise the ministry to the glory of God and 
the edifying of the Church. And when the Standing Commit- 
tee do not certify as above, from personal knowledge, the testi- 
monials laid before them shall be of the same purport, and as 
full as the certificate above required, and shall be signed by at 
least one Presbyter and four respectable Laymen of the Pro- 
testant Episcopal Church. 

Sec 3. In addition to the above testimonials, the person 
wishing to become a Candidate for Priest's Orders must lay 
before the Standing Committee a satisfactory diploma, or other 
satisfactory evidence that he is a graduate of some University or 
College, or a certificate from two Presbyters appointed by the 
Bishop, or, where there is no Bishop, the clerical members of 
the Standing Committee to examine him, of his having satis- 
factorily sustained an examination in Natural Philosophy, Moral 
Philosophy, and Rhetoric, and in the Greek Testament and the 
Latin tongue. 

Sec. 4. When a person applying to be admitted a Candidate 
for Priest's Orders, wishes a knowledge of the Latin, Greek and 
Hebrew languages, and other branches of learning, not strictly 
ecclesiastical, to be dispensed with, the Standing Committee 
shall not recommend him as a candidate until he has laid before 
them a testimonial signed by at least two Presbyters of this 
Church, stating that, in their opinion, he possesses extraordi- 
nary strength of natural understanding, a peculiar aptitude to 
teach, and a large share of prudence, and the Bishop, with the 



CANONS . 



93 



consent of the Standing Committee, shall have granted the dis- 
pensation. And in regard to a knowledge of the Hebrew lan- 
guage, in all cases in these Canons the Bishop shall have the 
sole discretion of dispensation. 

Sec. 5. It ought also to be made known to every Candidate for 
whatever order of the Ministry, that the Church expects of him, 
-what never can be brought to the test of any outward standard, 
an inward fear and worship of Almighty God, a love of religion, 
and a sensibility to its holy influence, a habit of devout affec- 
tion, and, in short, a cultivation of all those graces which are 
called in Scripture the frnits'of the Spirit, and by which alone 
His sacred influences can be manifested. 

Sec 6. The requisitions of this Canon being fulfilled, the 
Bishop may admit the person as a Candidate for Orders, and 
shall record the same in a book to be kept for that purpose, and 
notify the Candidate of such record. And in any Diocese where 
there is no Bishop, the Standing Committee may, on the same 
conditions, admit the person as a Candidate, and shall make 
record and notification in the same manner. 

Sec. 7. If, after obtaining the Canonical testimonials from the 
Standing Committee, the person be admitted as a Candidate by ♦ 
the Bishop, or, if there be no Bishop, by the Standing Com- 
mittee, he shall remain a Candidate for the term of three years 
before his ordination, unless the Bishop, with the consent of the 
Standing Committee, shall deem it expedient to ordain the Can- 
didate after the expiration of a shorter period, not less than one 
year. 

Sec 8. A Candidate for orders may, on letters of dismission 
from the Bishop or Standing Committee of the Diocese in which 
he was admitted a Candidate, be transferred to the jurisdiction 
of any Bishop in this Church, and if there be a Bishop within 
the Diocese where the Candidate resides, he. shall apply to no 
other Bishop for ordination without the permission of the former. 

Sec. 9. If any Candidate for Orders shall not, within three 
years after his admission, apply to have the first and second ex- 
aminations held, as hereafter prescribed, or if he shall not, within 
five years from his admission, apply to have his third examina- 
tion held, (unless the Bishop, for satisfactory reasons to him 
assigned, shall allow him further time,) the said person shall, 
in either case, cease to be a Candidate. 



94 



CANONS. 



Sec. 10. A person desirous of becoming a Candidate for Holy- 
Orders, shall apply to the Bishop, or, if there be no Bishop, to 
the Standing Committee of the Diocese in which he resides, 
unless the said Bishop, or Ecclesiastical authority, shall give 
their consent to his application in some other Diocese. Candi- 
dates shall not change their Canonical residence but for bona 
fide causes requiring the same, to be judged of by the Bishop, 
or, if there be no Bishop, the Standing Committee, and they 
shall not be dismissed from the Dioceses in which they were 
admitted, or to which they have been duly transferred for the 
convenience of attending any theological or other seminary. 

Sec. 11. Canon VI. of A. D. 1847 is hereby repealed. 

CANON VIII. 

Of the Preparatory Exercises of a Candidate for Priest's 

Orders. 

Sec. I. There shall be assigned to every Candidate for 
Priest's Orders three different examinations, at such times and 
places as the Bishop to whom he applies for Orders shall ap- 
point. The examination shall take place in the presence of the 
Bishop and two or more Presbyters, on the following studies 
prescribed by the Canons, and by the course of study established 
by the House of Bishops. At the first examination, on the books 
of Scripture, the Candidate being required to give an account 
of the different books, and to translate from the original Greek 
and Hebrew, and to explain such passages as may be proposed 
to him. At the second examination, on the Evidences of Chris- 
tianity and Systematic Divinity. And at the last examination, 
on Church History, Ecclesiastical Polity, the Book of Common 
Prayer, and the Constitution and Canons of the Church, and 
of the Diocese for which he is to be ordained. In the choice 
of books on the above subjects the Candidate is to be guided by 
the course of study established by the House of Bishops. At 
each of the forementioned examinations he shall produce and 
read a sermon or discourse composed by himself, on some pas- 
sage of Scripture previously assigned him, which, together with 
two other sermons, or discourses on some passage of Scripture 
selected by himself, shall be submitted to the criticisms of the 
Bishops and Clergy present. And before bis ordination, he 
shall be required to perform such exercises in reading in the pre- 



CANONS. 



95 



sence of the Bishop and Clergy, as may enable them to give 
him such advice and instructions as may aid him in performing 
the service of the Church, and delivering his sermons with pro- 
priety and devotion. But such examinations may take place 
either before or after the admission of the Candidate to Deacon's 
Orders; provided that nothing in this Canon shall be construed 
to extend to any person now in Deacon's Orders. 

Sec. 2. The Bishop may appoint some of his Presbyters to 
conduct the above examinations; and a Certificate from these 
Presbyters, that the prescribed examinations have been held ac- 
cordingly and satisfaction given, shall be required of the Candi- 
date; provided that, in this case, the Candidate shall, before his 
Ordination, be examined by the Bishop and two or more Pres- 
byters on the above named studies. 

Sec. 3. In a Diocese where there is no Bishop, the Standing 
Committee shall act in his place in appointing the examining 
Presbyters required by this Canon. And in this case the Can- 
didate shall be again examined by the Bishop to whom he ap- 
plies for Orders, and two or more Presbyters, on the studies pre- 
cribed by the Canons. 

Sec. 4. A Clergyman who presents a person to the Bishop- 
for Orders, as specified in the Office for Ordination, without hav- 
ing good grounds to believe that the requisitions of the Canons 
have been complied with, shall be liable to Ecclesiastical censure. 

Sec. 5. Canon V. of A. D. 1841 is hereby repealed. 

CANON IX. 

Of the Officiating of Ministers of this Church, and of the For- 
mation of Parishes within the Parochial Cures of other Cler- 
gymen. 

[Former Canons on this subject were the sixth of 1792, the fifth and seventh of 
1795, the thirty-third of 1808, the seventh of 1829, and the thirty-first of 1832.] 

Sec. 1. No Minister belonging to this Church shall officiate 
either by preaching, reading prayers, or otherwise, in the Parish 
or within the Parochial Cure of another Clergyman, unless he 
have received express permission for that purpose from the 
Minister of the Parish or Cure, or, in his absence, from the 
Churchwardens and Vestrymen; or Trustees of the Congrega- 
tion, or a majority thereof. 



96 



CANONS. 



Sec. 2. Where Parish boundaries are not defined by law or • 
otherwise, they shall, for the purposes of the foregoing section, 
be settled and defined by the civil divisions of the State as 
follows: — 1. If a city, village, town, township, or incorporated 
borough, or any ward, district, or other subdivision of either of 
the same, shall contain but one Church or Congregation, the 
Minister having charge of such Church or Congregation shall 
be deemed to have the Parochial Cure within the same. 2. 
Any city, village, town, township, or incorporated borough, or 
the smallest subdivision of either of the same, in which there 
are two or more Churches or Congregations, shall be deemed 
the Parochial Cure of the ministers of such Churches or Con- 
gregations, and the assent of a majority of such Ministers shall 
be necessary. 

Sec. 3. If any Minister of the Church, from inability or any 
other cause, neglect to perform the regular services to his Con- 
gregation, and refuse, without good cause, his consent to any 
other Minister of the Church to officiate within his Cure, the 
Churchwardens, Vestrymen, or Trustees of such Congregation 
shall, on proof of such neglect or refusal before the Bishop of 
the Diocese, or, if there be no Bishop, before the Standing 
Committee, or before such persons as may be deputed by him 
or them, or before such persons as may be, by the regulations of 
this Church in any Diocese, vested with the power of hearing 
and deciding on complaints against Clergymen, have power, 
with the written consent of the beforementioned authority, to 
open the doors of their Church to any regular Minister of the 
Protestant Episcopal Church. 

Sec. 4. A new Parish may be established, or a new Church 
or Congregation organized, within the limits of any Parish 
whose limits are prescribed by express law, or otherwise, or 
within the limits of any city, town, village, or incorporated 
borough, or any subdivision of either of the same, in the follow- 
ing manner: — 1. Upon the written consent of the Minister or 
Rector having charge of a Church or Congregation within such 
limits, where there shall be but one Church or Congregation, 
with a Minister in charge thereof, or of the Wardens and Vestry 
of said Church or Congregation, or a majority thereof, where 
such Church or Congregation is without a Minister. 2. Where 
there are more Churches or Congregations than one, and less 



CANONS . 



97 



than four, within such limits, upon the written consent of a 
majority of such Ministers. 3. And where the number of such 
Churches or Congregations shall exceed three, then, upon the 
written consent of the Ministers of the two Churches or Congre- 
gations whose places of public worship shall be nearest to the 
place proposed as the place of worship of such new parishioners. 
The written consent in the preceding cases shall be filed with 
the Secretary of the Standing Committee. 4. In each of the 
preceding cases the consent, in writing, of the Ecclesiastical 
authority must be given to the establishment of such new Pa- 
rish. 5. If the consent of the Minister or Ministers aforesaid is 
denied or withheld, application may be made to the Ecclesiasti- 
cal authority of the Diocese for the establishment of such new 
Parish, of which application one month's previous notice shall 
be given to the Minister or Ministers whose consent is so denied 
or withheld. The decision of the Ecclesiastical authority, if 
in favor of the application, shall be final; but if otherwise, the 
case shall be reported to the Convention of the Diocese (with 
the reasons for withholding an assent) for the final action of 
that body. 

Sec. 5. Canon XXXI. of 1832 is hereby repealed. 
CANON X. 
Of Missionary Bishops within the United States. 

[Former Canons on this subject were the second of 1835, the second of 1838, 
and the eighth of 1841.] 

Sec. 1. The House of Clerical and Lay Deputies may, from 
time to time, on nomination by the House of Bishops, elect a 
suitable person or persons to be a Bishop or Bishops of this 
church, to exercise Episcopal functions in States or Territories 
not organized into Dioceses. The evidence of such election 
shall be a certificate, to be subscribed by a constitutional ma- 
jority of said House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, in the form 
required by Canon III. of 1832, to be given by the members of 
Diocesan Conventions, on the recommendations of Bishops elect 
for consecration, which Certificate shall be produced to the 
House of Bishops ; and if the House of Bishops shall consent 
to the Consecration, they may take Order for that purpose. 

Sec. 2. The Bishop or Bishops so elected and consecrated, 
shall exercise Episcopal functions in such States and Territories, 



98 



CANONS. 



in conformity with the constitution and Canons of the Church, 
and under such regulations and instructions, not consistent 
therewith, as the House of Bishops may prescribe. 

Sec. 3. The jurisdiction of this Church, extending in right, 
though not always in form, to all persons belonging to it within 
the United States, it is hereby enacted, that each Missionary 
Bishop shall have jurisdiction over the Clergy in the District 
assigned him; and may, in case a Presentment and Trial of a 
Clergyman become proper, request the action of any Presbyters 
and Standing Committee in any Diocese sufficiently near, and 
the presentment and trial shall be according to the Constitution 
and Canons of said Diocese. Or if there be such a Standing 
Committee appointed by the Missionary Bishop as hereinafter 
provided for, the Clerical Members thereof may make Present- 
ment, and the trial shall take place, according to the Constitu- 
tion and Canons of any diocese of this Church which may have 
been selected at the time of the appointment of such Standing 
Committee; provided that the Court shall be composed of, at 
least, three Presbyters, excluding the members of the Standing 
Committee and the accused. And the House of Bishops may 
at any time increase or diminish the number of States or Terri- 
tories over which the said Bishop or Bishops shall exercise 
Episcopal functions. And in case of the death or resignation 
of a Missionary Bishop, the charge of the vacant Missionary 
Episcopate shall devolve on the Senior Bishop of this Church, 
with the power of appointing some other Bishop as his substi- 
tute in said charge. 

Sec. 4. Any Bishop or Bishops elected and consecrated under 
this Canon shall be entitled to a seat in the House of Bishops, 
and shall be eligible to the office of Diocesan Bishop in any or- 
ganized Diocese within the United States. And whenever a 
Diocese shall have been organized within the jurisdiction of 
such Missionary Bishop, if he shall be chosen Bishop of such 
Diocese, he may accept the office without vacating his Mis- 
sionary appointment, provided that he continue to discharge the 
duties of Missionary Bishop within the residue of his original 
jurisdiction. 

Sec. 5. Every such Bishop may yearly appoint two Presby- 
ters and two Laymen, Communicants of this church, resident 
within his Missionary jurisdiction, to perform the duties of a 



C A N O N S . 



99 



Standing Committee for such jurisdiction; provided that no 
Standing Committee constituted under this Canon shall be the 
Ecclesiastical authority of the jurisdiction of said Missionary 
Bishop during the vacancy of the Episcopate thereof, or shall 
have power to give or refuse assent to the Consecration of a 
Bishop. 

- Sec. 6. Every such Bishop shall report to each General Con- 
vention his proceedings, and the state and condition of the 
Church in said States and Territories of the United States, and 
at least once a year make a report to the Board of Missions. 
Sec. 7. Canon VIII. of 1844 is hereby repealed. 

CANON XI. 
Of the Trustees of the Missionary Bishop's Fund. 

Sec. 1. It shall be the duty of the General Convention, at 
each Triennial Session, on the nomination of the Standing 
Committee on the State of the Church, to appoint five Laymen 
of this Church, to constitute a Board of Trustees of the Mis- 
sionary Bishop's Fund. 

Sec. 2. It shall be the duty of the said Trustees to take 
charge of all contributions of money or real estate which may 
be made to them, and accompanied with designation by the do- 
nors thereof, for any or either of the purposes herein specified, 
viz: 1. For the present support of any Missionary Bishop of 
this Church: 2. For investment; the interest or proceeds to be 
applied to such present support: 3. For the support of Bishops of 
this Church in new and nascent Dioceses, or in regions in which 
the Church is not organized: 4. For the endowment of the Epis- 
copate in new Dioceses, or in regions in which the Church is 
not organized. 

Sec. 3. All contributions, the disposition of which may not 
have been designated by the donors, shall be applied by the 
said Board of Trustees, according to their descretion, for the 
above named objects, until the direction of the General Conven- 
tion in the premises. 

Sec. 4. All moneys received by either of the Missionary 
Committees of the Board of Missions specifically for either of 
the purpises designated in this Canon, shall be paid over to the 
Treasurer of the Board of Trustees hereby constituted, accom- 
panied by a statement of the directions of the donors. 



100 



CANONS . 



Sec. 5. The Board of Trustees hereby constituted shall ap- 
point a Treasurer, who shall keep fair accounts of all the re- 
ceipts and payments of the Board. These accounts shall at all 
times be open to the inspection of any Bishop of this Church, 
or of any accountant appointed for the purpose by any three 
Bishops of this Church. The Board shall have power to make 
all necessary payments and disbursements in the discharge of 
their trust. 

Sec. 6. The Board shall make a Triennial Report to the 
House of Clerical and Lay Deputies on the third day of the ses- 
sion of the General Convention; and shall accompany the Re- 
port with an account of their receipts and payments during the 
last three years. It shall be the duty of the House to refer such 
account to a Committee to be admitted. 

Sec. 7. Said Trustees are hereby empowered to procure an 
act of incorporation for the purposes and objects specified in this 
Canon. 

CANON XII. 

Of the mode of securing an Accurate View of the State of the 
Church from time to time. 

[Former Canons on this subject were the eleventh of 1804, the forty-fifth of 1808, 
the third of 1814, the first and third of 1820, the fifty-first of 1832, the seventh 
of 1835, and the eighth of 1841.] 

Sec. 1. As a full and accurate view of the state of the Church, 
from time to time, is highly useful and necessary, it is hereby 
ordered that every Minister of this Church, or, if the Parish be 
vacant, the Wardens, shall present, or cause to be delivered, on 
or before the first day of every annual Convention, to the Bishop 
of the Diocese, or, where there is no Bishop, to the President of 
the Convention, a statement of the number of Baptisms, Con- 
firmations, Marriages, and Funerals, and of the number of 
Communicants in his Parish or Church, also the state and con- 
dition of the Sunday Schools in his Parish, also of the amount 
of the communion alms, the contributions for missions, dioce- 
san, domestic, and foreign, for parochial schools, for church pur- 
poses in general, and of all other matters that may throw light 
on the state of the same. And every other Clergyman, not re- 
gularly settled in any Parish or Church, shall also report the 
occasional services he may have performed; and if he have 



CANONS . 



101 



performed no such services, the causes or reas'ons which have 
prevented the same. And these reports, or such parts of them 
as the Bishop shall think fit, may be read in Convention, and 
shall be entered on the journals thereof. 

Sec. 2. At every Annual Diocesan Convention, the Bishop 
shall deliver an address, stating the affairs of the Diocese since 
the last meeting of the Convention; the names of the churches 
which he has visited; the number of persons confirmed; the 
names of those who have been received as Candidates for Or- 
ders, and of those who have been ordained, suspended, or de- 
graded; the changes by death, removal or otherwise, which 
have taken place among the Clergy ; and in general, all mat- 
ters tending to throw light on the affairs of the Diocese; which 
address shall be inserted on the journals. 

Sec. 3. At every General Convention the Journals of the dif- 
ferent Diocesan Conventions, since the last General Convention, 
together with such other papers, viz: Episcopal Charges, Ad- 
dresses and Pastoral Letters, as may tend to throw light on the 
state of the Church in each Diocese, shall be presented to the 
House of Clerical and Lay Deputies. A Committee shall then 
be appointed to draw up a view of the State of the Church, 
and to make report to the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies; 
which report, when agreed to by the said House, shall be sent 
to the House of Bishops, with a request that they will draw up, 
and cause to be published, a Pastoral Letter to the members of 
the church. And it is hereby* made the duty of every Clergy- 
man having a pastoral charge, when any such letter is published, 
to read the said Pastoral Letter to his Congregation on some oc- 
casion of public worship. 

Sec. 4. It shall be the duty of the Secretary of the Conven- 
tion of every Diocese, or of the person or persons with whom 
the Journals or other Ecclesiastical papers are lodged, to forward 
to the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, at every General 
Convention, the documents and papers specified in this Canon. 

Sec. 5. It is recommended that the Bishop and Standing 
Committee of the Church in every Diocese, or if there be no 
Bishop, the Standing Committee only, prepare previously to the 
meeting of every General Convention, a condensed report, and 
a tabular view of the state of the Church in their Diocese, com- 
prising therein a summary of the statistics from the^ Parochial 
Reports, and from the Bishop's Addresses, specifying the capi- 



102 



CANONS. 



tals and proceeds of the Episcopal Fund, and of all benevolent 
and Missionary associations of Churchmen within the Diocese, 
for the purpose of aiding the Committee on the State of the 
Church, appointed by the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies 
in drafting their reports. 

Sec. 6. Canon VIII. of 1841 is hereby repealed. 

CANON XIII. 

Of Removal of Communicants from one Parish to another. 

A Communicant removing from one Parish to another shall 
procure from the Rector (if any) of the Parish of his last resi- 
dence, or if there be no Rector, from one of the Wardens, a 
Ceitificate stating that he or she is a Communicant in good 
standing, and the Rector of the Parish or Congregation to which 
he or she removes shall not be required to receive him or her as 
a Communicant until such letter be produced. 

CANON XIV. 

Of the Election and Institution of Ministers into Parishes or 

Churches. 

[Former Canons on this subject were the seventeenth of 1789, the third of 1799, 
the first of 1804, the twenty-ninth of 1808, the second of 1814, and the thirtieth 
of 1832.] 

Sec I . It is hereby required, that on the election of a Minis- 
ter into any Church or Parish, the Vestry shall deliver, or cause 
to be delivered to the Bishop, or where there is no Bishop, to 
the Standing Committee of the Diocese, notice of the same, in 
the following lorm, or to this effect: 

" We, the Churchwardens (or, in case of an Assistant Minis- 
ter), We the Rector and Churchwardens), do certify to the Right 
Rev. (naming the Bishop), or to the Rev. {naming the President 
of the Standing Committee), that {naming the person) has been 
duly chosen Rector (or, Assistant Minister, as the case may be) 
of (naming the Parish or Church, or Churches.''' 1 ) 

Which Certificate shall be signed with the names of those 
who certify. 

Sec 2. And if the Clergyman removing to another Diocese, 
and being called to take charge of a Parish or Congregation 
within such Diocese, present the testimonial as required by 



CANONS . 



103 



Canon VII. of 1850, it shall be the duty of the Ecclesiastical 
authority of the Diocese to which he has removed, to accept it, 
unless the Bishop, or where there is no Bishop, the Standing 
Committee shall have heard rumors that he or they believe to 
be well founded, against the character of the Clergyman con- 
cerned, which would form a proper ground of Canonical inquiry 
and presentment, in which case the Ecclesiastical authority 
shall communicate the same to the Bishop or Standing Com- 
mittee of the Diocese to whose jurisdiction the said Clergyman 
belongs; and in such cases, it shall not be the duty of the Ec- 
clesiastical authority to accept the testimonial, unless and until 
the Clergyman shall be exculpated from the said charges. 

Sec. 3. If the Bishop or the Standing Committee be satisfied 
that the person so chosen is a qualified Minister of this Church, 
the Bishop, or the President of the Standing Committee, shall 
transmit the said Certificate to the Secretary of the Convention, 
who shall record it in a book, to be kept by him for that purpose. 

Sec. 4. But if the Bishop or the Standing Committee be not 
satisfied as above, he or they shall, at the instance of the par- 
ties, proceed to inquire into the sufficiency of the person so 
chosen, according to such rules as may be made in the respec- 
tive Dioceses, and shall confirm or reject the' appointment, as 
the issue of that inquiry may be. 

Skc. 5. And if the Minister be a Presbyter, the Bishop or 
President of the Standing Committee may, at the instance of 
the Vestry, proceed to have him instituted, according to the Of- 
fice established by this Church, if that Office be used in the 
Diocese. But if he be a Deacon, the act of Institution shall 
not take place until after he shall have received Priest's Orders. 
This provision concerning the use of the Office of Institution, 
is not to be considered as applying to any Congregation desti- 
tute of a house of worship. 

Sec. 6. Canon XXX. of 1832 is hereby repealed. 

CANON XV. 
Of the Expenses of General Conventions. 

[Former Canons on this subject were the fifty-fourth of 1832, the eighth of 1835, 
the tenth of 1838, and the first of 1844.] 

Sec. 1. In order that the contingent expenses of General 
Conventions may be defrayed, it shall be the duty of the seve- 



104 CANONS. 

ral Diocesan Conventions to forward to the Treasurer of the Ge- 
neral Convention, at or before any meetings of the General Con- 
vention, one dollar and one half for each Clergyman within said 
Diocese. 

Sec. 2. Canon I. of 1844 is hereby repealed. 

Done in Getieral Convention, in the City of New York, 
October, 1S53. 

By order of the House of Bishops, 

THOS. CHURCH BROWNE LL, D.D., LL D., 

Presiding Bishop. 

Attested, Lewis P. W. Balch, D.D., Secretary. 

By order of the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, 

WILLIAM CREIGHTON, D.D., President. 

Attested, M. A. DeWolpe Howe, D.D., Secretary. 



INDEX. 



PAGE 

Revised Constitution of the Protestant Episcopal Church of the Dio- 
cese of Virginia, as adopted in 1836, and amended in 1840 and 1850, 3 

CANONS OF THE DIOCESE OF VIRGINIA. 

Canon I. Of the trial of a Bishop, ----- 7 

II. Of the trial of a Clergyman, not being a Bishop, - 8 

III. Of the proceedings in the trial of a Layman, after expulsion 

by the Minister from the Holy Communion, 11 

IV. Of the transfer of Communicants from one Parish, or Church, 

to another, - - - ' - - 12 

V. Ministers to be careful in admitting to Holy Communion, - 12 

VI. Communicants to have Family Worship, 12 
VII. The Members of this Church to instruct their Families in the 

principles of Religion, ----- 12 

VIII. Of the due celebration of Sunday, 13 

IX. Of Vestries, Church Wardens, &c. 13 

X. Concerning exceptions to the foregoing Canon, - - 15 

XI. Of the division of Parishes, ----- - 15 

XII. Of the formation of New Congregations, - - - 16 

XIII. Of the evidence of the appointment of Lay Delegates to the 

Convention, -------17 

XIV. Of the Standing Committee, ----- 17 
XV. A List to be made of Ministers in this Diocese, - - 18 

XVI. Of Candidates for Orders, - - - - 19 

XVII. Respecting the Property of the Church, 19 

XVIII. Providing for the Expenses of the Diocese, 20 

XIX. OfTenderstobeadmonished,orrepelledfromtheLord'sTable, 20 

XX. Concerning altering or adding to the Canons of this Church, 20 

XXI. Repealing former Canons, - - - - 21 

An Act "Concerning Church Property," ----- 23 

Ministers Celebrating the Rites of Marriage, 24 

Register of Marriage, - - - - - - 25 

The Constitution of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United 

States of America, - -- -- --27 

GENERAL CANONS OF 1832. 

Canon I. Of the Orders of Ministers in this Church, ... . 33 

II. Of the Election of Bishops, (repealed by Canon I. of 1835, - 33 
III. Of the Certificates to be produced on the part of the Bishops 

Elect, - .... - - - - 33 

K 



106 



INDEX. 



Canon f age 
IV. Of Standing Committees, ----- 35 

V. Of the Consecrations of Bishops during the Recess of the 

General Convention, ----- 35 

VI. Of Assistant Bishops, ------ 36 

VII. Of the performance of Episcopal duties in Vacant Dioceses, 

(repealed by Canon III. 1838,) - - - - 37 

VIII. Of the age of those who are to be Ordained or Consecrated, - 37 
IX. Of Candidates for Orders, (repealed by Canon IV. 1838,) - 37 
X. Of the conduct required in Candidates for Orders, 37 
XI. Of Candidates for Orders who are Lay Readers, 37 
XII. Of Candidates who may be refused Orders, 38 

XIII. Of the Learning of those who are to be Ordained, (repealed 

by Canon V. 1838,) - - - - - 38 

XIV. Of the Preparatory Exercises of a Candidate for Deacon's Or- 

ders, (repealed by Canon V. 1841,) 38 
XV. Of the Testimonials to be produced on the part of those who 

are to be Ordained, ----- 39 

XVI. Of Candidates coming from places within the United States 

in which the Constitution of this Church has not been ac- 
ceded to, - - - - - 41 

XVII. Of Deacons, - - 41 

XVIII. Of the Preparatory Exercises of a Candidate for Priest's 

Orders, - -- -- -- 41 

XIX. Of the Titles of those who are to be Ordained Priests, - 42 
XX. Of the times of Ordinations, ----- 42 

XXI. Of those who have Officiated as Ministers among other De- 
nominations of Christians, and apply for Orders in this 
Church, (repealed by Canon III. 1835,) 42 

XXII. Of Clergymen Ordained for Foreign Parts, 42 

XXIII. Of Clergymen Ordained by Foreign Bishops, or by Bishops 

not in Communion with this Church, and desirous of Offi- 
ciating or Settling in this Church, (repealed by Canon VI. 
1841,) - - - - - - 43 

XXIV. Of Ministers celebrating Divine Service in a Foreign Lan- 
guage, - - - - - ' - 43 

XXV. Of Episcopal Visitations, (repealed by Canon IV. 1850,) - 44 
XXVI. Of the Duty of Ministers in regard to Episcopal Visitations, 44 
XXVII. Of Episcopal Charges and Pastoral Letters, - - 45 

XXVIII. Of Parochial Instruction, ----- 45 

XXIX. Of the Duty of Ministers to keep a Register, - - 45 

XXX. Of the Election and Institution of Ministers into Parishes or 

Churches, (repealed by Canon XIV. of 1853,) - - 46 

XXXI. Of the Officiating of Ministers of this Church in the Chur- 

ches, or within the Parochial Cures of other Clergymen, 
(repealed by Canon IX. of 1853,) 46 

XXXII. Of Episcopal Resignations, (repealed by Canon IV. 1844,) - 46 

XXXIII. Of the Dissolution of all Pastoral Connection between Mi- 

nisters and their Congregations, 46 

XXXIV. Of Differences between Ministers and their Congregations, - 47 

XXXV. Of Ministers removing from one Diocese to another, (re- 

pealed by Canon IV. 1835,) - ... 48 



INDEX 



107 



Canon page 
XXXVI. Of the Officiating of persons not Ministers of this Church, - 48 
XXXVII. Of Offences for which Ministers shall be Tried and Punished, 48 
XXXVIII. Of a Minister declaring that he will no longer be a Minister 

of this Church, frepealed by Canon V. 1850,) - - 49 
XXXIX. Of Degradation from the Ministry, and of Publishing the 

sentence thereof, (repealed by Canon II. 1847,) - - 49 
XL. Of a Clergyman in any Diocese, chargeable with Misde- 
meanor in any other, (repealed by Canon VI. 1850,) - 50 
XLI. Of the Due Celebration of Sundays, ... 50 

XLII. Of Crimes and Scandals to be censured, 50 
XLIII. Of a congregation in any Diocese uniting with any other 

Diocese, - " - - - - - 51 

XLIV. Of the Mode of Publishing Authorized Editions of the 

Standard Bible of this Church, 51 
XLV. Of the use of the Book of Common Prayer, 52 
XLVI. Of the Mode of Publishing Authorized Editions of the Book 

of Common Prayer, &c, (repealed by Canon VI. 1835,) - 52 
XLVH. Of Forms of Prayer or Thanksgiving for Extraordinary Oc- 
casions, 52 
XLVIII. Of a List of Ministers of this Church, 52 
XLIX. Of the Mode of calling Special Meetings of the General Con- 
vention, -------53 

L. Of the Mode of Transmitting Notice of all Matters submitted 
by the General Convention to the consideration of the Dio- 
cesan Conventions, ------ 54 

LI. Of the Mode of securing an Accurate View of the State of 
the Church from time to time, (repealed by Canon VII. 

1835,) - - 54 

LII. Of the Alms and Contributions at the Holy Communion, - 54 
LIII. Of the Requisites of a Quorum, 54 
LIV. Of Defraying Expenses of the General Convention, (repealed 

by Canon VIII. 1835,) ----- 55 
LV. Of the Trustees of the General Theological Seminary, (re- 
pealed by Canon I. 1847,) ----- 55 
LVI. Repealing former Canons, ----- 55 

CANONS OF 1835. 

Canon I. Of the Election of Bishops, (repealed by Canon I. 1838,) - 56 
II. Of Missionary Bishops, (repealed by Canon II. 1838,) - 56 

III. Of those who have officiated, without Episcopal Ordination, 

as Ministers among other denominations of Christians, and 
apply for Orders in this Church, (repealed by Canon VII. 
1838,) - 56 

IV. Of Ministers removing from one Diocese to another, (re- 

pealed by Canon VII. 1841,) 56 
V. Of Amenability and Citations, 56 

VI. Of the Mode of Publishing Authorized Editions of the Book 

of Common Prayer, &c, (repealed by Canon IX. 1838,) - 57 

VII. Of the Mode of securing an Accurate View of the State of the 

Church, from time to time, (repealed by Canon VIII. 1841,) 57 



108 



INDEX. 



Canon page 
VIII. Of Defraying Expenses of the General Convention, (repealed 

by Canon X. 1838,) 57 

CANONS OF 1838. 

Canon I. Of the Election of Bishops, (repealed by Canon II. 1844,) 58 
II. Of Missionary Bishops, (repealed by Canon VIII. 1844,) - 58 

III. Of the performance of Episcopal duties in Vacant Dioceses, 

(repealed by Canon IV. 1847,) 58' 

IV. Of Candidates for Orders, (repealed by Canon IX. 1841,) - 58 
V. Of the Learning of those who are to be Ordained, (repealed 

by Canon VI. 1853,) 58 

VI. Of Candidates for Orders ineligible to the General Conven- 
tion, -------58 

VII. Concerning Candidates for Orders in this Church, who have 
been Ministers, Licentiates, or Students of Theology, 
among other Religious Denominations, 59 
VIII. Of the Organizing of new Dioceses formed out of existing 

Dioceses, - - - - - - 60 

IX. Of the Mode of Publishing Authorized Editions of the Book 

of Common Prayer, &c, (repealed by Canon VII. 1847,) - 61 
X. Of Defraying the Expenses of General Convention, (repealed 

by Canon I. 1844,) 61 

XI. Of repealed Canons, 62 

CANONS OF 1841. 

Canon I. Of the Treasurer of the Convention, 63 
II. Of a Clergyman Absenting himself from his Diocese, - 63 

III. Of the Election of a Missionary Bishop to the Office of Dio- 

cesan Bishop, ----- 64 

IV. Of the Trial of Bishops, (repealed by Canon III. 1844,) - 65 

V. Of the Preparatory Exercises of a Candidate for Deacon's Or- 

ders, (repealed by Canon VIII. 1853,) 65 

VI. Of Clergymen Ordained by Foreign Bishops in Communion 

with this Church, and desirous of Officiating or Settling in 

this Church, (repealed by Canon IX. 1844,) 65 

VII. Of Ministers removing from one Diocese to another, (repealed 

by Canon V. 1844,) 65 
VIII. Of the Mode of securing an Accurate View of the State of the 

Church, from time to time, (repealed by Canon XII. 1853,) - 65 
IX. Of Candidates for Orders, (repealed by Canon VI. 1847,) - 65 
X. Of Clergymen Ordained by Bishops not in Communion with 
this Church, and desirous of Officiating or Settling in this 
Church, .-----.66 

CANONS OF 1844. 

Canon I. Of Expenses of the General Convention, (repealed by Canon 

XV. 1853,) 67 

II. Of the Election of Bishops, - • • - - 67, 



INDEX. 



109 



Canon 




PAGE 


m. 


Of the Trial of a Bishop, ..... 


68 


IV. 


Of Episcopal Resignations, (repealed by Canon II. 1850,) 


72 


v. 


Of Ministers Removing from one Diocese to another, (repealed 






by Canon VII. 1850,) ..... 


72. 


VL 


Of a Discretion to be allowed in the Calling, Trial, and Exami- 






nation of Deacons in certain cases, (repealed by Canon V. 






18-17,) . - 


72 


VII 


, Of Foreign Missionary Bishops, (repealed by Canon I. 1850,) - 


72 


VIIL Of Missionary Bishops within the United States, (repealed by 






Canon X. 1853,) - 


72 


IX. Of Clergymen Ordained in Foreign Countries by Bishops in Com- 






munion with this Church, - 


72 




OAjNUjNb Vi 1847. 




Canon I. 


Of the Trustees of the General Theological Seminary, - 


15 


n. 


Of the Remission or Modification of Judicial Sentences, 


75 


III. 


Of the Penalty of Suspension, - - - - - 


76 


IV. 


Of the Performance of Episcopal Duties- in Vacant Dioceses, or 






in a Diocese, the Bishop of which is under disability, 


76 


V. 


Of a Discretion to be allowed in the Calling, Trial, and Exami- 






nation of Deacons in certain cases, (repealed by Canon V. 






1853,) ....... 


77 


VI. 


Ot Candidates for Orders, (repealed by Canon VII. 1853,) 


t i 


vn. 


Of the Mode of Publishing Authorized Editions of the Book 






of Common Prayer, &c. ..... 


11 




A XT /-WTO /~\ T? t or/1 

CAJNUiNb Vi> 1850. 




Canon L 


Of Foreign Missionary Bishops, .... 


78 


II. 


Of Episcopal Resignations, - 


80 


III. 


Of the Election of a Provisional Bishop in the case of a Diocese 






whose Bishop is suspended without a precise limitation of 






time, ....... 


82 


IV. 


Of Episcopal Visitations, ..... 


82 


V. 


Of a Minister declaring that he will no longer be a Minister of 






this Church, ------ 


83 


VI. 


Of a Clergyman in any Diocese or Missionary District charge- 






able with Misdemeanor in any other, ... 


84 


VII. 


Of Clerical Residence and Removal, .... 


85 




CANONS OF 1853. 




Canon I. 


Of the Abandonment of the Communion of the Church by any 






Bishop, Priest, or Deacon, ----- 


88 


II. 


Of the Abandonment of the Communion of the Church by a 






Presbyter or Deacon, ..... 


88 


III. 


Of Bishops absent from their Dioceses because of sickness or 






other sufficient reason, - - . . 


88 


IV. 


Of a Register of the General Convention, - 


89 



110 



INDEX. 



Canon page 

V. Of the Ordination of Deacons, .... 90 

VI. Of the Learning of those who are to be Ordained Priests, - 91 

VII. Of Candidates for Orders, ... . . - 91 

VIII. Of the Preparatory Exercises of a Candidate for Priests' Orders, 94 
IX. Of the Officiating of Ministers of this Church, and of the for- 
mation of Parishes within the Parochial Cures of other Clergy- 
men, - ... . . . 95 

X. Of Missionary Bishops within the United States, 97 

XI. Of the Trustees of the Missionary Bishops' Fund, - - 99 

XII. Of the mode of securing an Accurate View of the state of the 

Church from time to time, ..... 100 

XIII. Of Removal of Communicants from one Parish to another, - 102 

XIV. Of the Election and Institution of Ministers into Parishes or 

Churches, 102 

XV. Of the Expenses of General Conventions, ... 103 



REVISED 

• CONSTITUTION AND CANONS 

OF THE 

PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH 



DIOCESE OF VIRGINIA; 

ALSO THE 

CONSTITUTION AND CANONS 

OF THE 

PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH 

IN THE 

UNITED STATES, 

AS ADOPTED IN 1853. 



RICHMOND: 

ELLIOTT & NYE'S STEAM-POWER PRESS, WHIG BUILDING. 

1855. 



